Biology of neoplastic cells of ethmoid carcinoma

Abstract

Attempts were made to propagate the ethmoid carcinoma cells in vitro to study the biological behaviour of the neoplastic cells and their relationship with the host. Efforts were also made to transplant the neoplastic cells in laboratory animals and tumour bearing natural hosts so as to lay out a model system for further investigation. In vitro propagation was tried by obtaining the tumour tissues from nine cows and three goats. Cells were grown in Hank’s balanced salt solution (HBSS). TC – 199 and Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium with 10 to 20 per cent calf serum. The cell suspension was seeded into tissue culture bottles, milk diluting bottles and test tubes and incubated at 370 C. No growth was observed in the cultures made from the tumour tissue of cows. The tumour cells from two goats grew in monolyerand were maintained for nine days. There was no difference in growth of cells in different media employed. Insulin supplementation in the media did not cause any difference in the growth of the cells. Subsequently the cells died even after subculturing and changing of the media. Absence of certain unknown factors required by the neoplastic cells for growth was considered responsible for failure of the growth. Transplantation studies were carried out in autologous, homologous and heterologous species of animals using the tumour tissue framgments, homogenate, filtrate and cell suspension. No autograft or heterotransplant were successful. Homologous transplantation resulted in a firm painless growth at the site of injection. The growth initiated a cell – mediated immune response at the site of implantation. Failure of neoplastic cells to grow in the other hosts was considered to be due to rejection of the transplants by the host’s immune system.