Electrical excitability of oat cell carcinoma.

Cultured tumour cells from two oat cell carcinomas of the lung were demonstrated to generate all-or-nothing, short-duration action potentials similar to those previously reported in neurones, in bronchial carcinoid cells, and in a number of endocrine cells of proven or proposed neural ancestry. This observation provides new evidence to establish oat cell carcinomas and carcinoids as closely related tumours distinct from other pulmonary neoplasms, and raises the possibility of treating these tumours by manipulation of hormonal agents.