title: A new and reliable culture system for superficial low-grade urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.
abstract: Several bladder cancer culture systems have been developed in recent years. However, reports about successful primary cultures of superficial urothelial carcinomas (UC) are sparse. Based on the specific growth requirements of UC described previously, we developed a new and reliable culture system for superficial low-grade UC. Between November 2002 and April 2006, 64 primary cultures of bladder cancer specimens were performed. After incubating the specimens overnight in 0.1% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid solution, tumour cells could easily be separated from the submucosal tissue. Subsequently, cells were seeded in a low-calcium culture medium supplemented with 1% serum, growth factors, non-essential amino acids and glycine. The malignant origin of the cultured cells was demonstrated by spectral karyotyping. Overall culture success rate leading to a homogenous tumour cell population without fibroblast contamination was 63%. Culture success could be remarkably enhanced by the addition of glycine to the culture medium. Interestingly, 86.4% of pTa tumours were cultured successfully compared to only 50% of the pT1 and 38% of advanced stage tumours, respectively. G1 and G2 tumours grew significantly better than G3 tumours (86, 73 and 41%, respectively). Up to three passages of low-grade UC primary cultures were possible. We describe a new and reliable culture system, which is highly successful for primary culture and passage of low-grade UC of the bladder. Therefore, this culture system can widely be used for functional experiments on early stage bladder cancer.
authors: Department of Urology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany. Hans-Helge.Seifert@usz.ch
authors: Hans-Helge
authors: HH
authors: Seifert
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Meyer
authors: Marcus V
authors: MV
authors: Cronauer
authors: Jiri
authors: J
authors: Hatina
authors: Mirko
authors: M
authors: Müller
authors: Harald
authors: H
authors: Rieder
authors: Michele J
authors: MJ
authors: Hoffmann
authors: Rolf
authors: R
authors: Ackermann
authors: Wolfgang A
authors: WA
authors: Schulz
mesh_terms: D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002470:Cell Survival; D003470:Culture Media; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media