Carcinoembryonic antigen production by human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells in matrix-perfusion culture.

Four human colorectal adenocarcinoma tumor cell lines, previously established and characterized in monolayer culture were grown in a matrix-perfusion culture system to determine the suitability of this technique for synthesis of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Production of CEA in excess of 100,000 ng was attained from one cell line, SW 403, during 15-day growth trials. In growth trials and cell-free diffusion studies, CEA passed through membranes of 100,000-dalton molecular weight porosity but not 10,000 porosity. Using cell cultures of high, moderate, or low producers, CEA synthesis tended to reach a plateau after several days of culture and remained nearly constant as the cells attained a maintenance condition. Basic biologic characteristics of the cell lines, expressed as growth rates and CEA produced per 10(6) cells, were comparable in monolayer and perfusion culture. The high cell densities, (10(8) to 10(9) cells per ml) achieved in matrix perfusion made it possible to routinely obtain continuous high yields of CEA over an extended time period.