PRIMARY CULTURES OF NORMAL AND TUMORAL HUMAN OVARIAN EPITHELIUM - A POWERFUL TOOL FOR BASIC MOLECULAR STUDIES

To begin delineating the cellular and molecular events that are import ant in ovarian carcinogenesis, we have developed a simple and rapid me thod for the establishment of primary cultures derived from benign tum ors, malignant tumors, and ascites of the ovary that are representativ e of the original clinical material from which they are derived. From 23 ovarian epithelial ascites collected, 13 were successfully establis hed in culture and cells survived an average of 7 to 8 passages. From 65 solid epithelial ovarian tumors (benign and malignant) 36 were cult ured for an average of 6 passages for cultures derived from benign tum ors and 11 or 12 passages in the case of malignant tumors. Cells were scored as epithelial in nature by morphology and histochemical analysi s using anti-cytokeratin antibodies. Cultures, especially those derive d from solid tumors, sometimes displayed fibroblastic-like contaminati on which was quickly resolved. We include limited molecular analyses b oth to characterize the origin of the populations we have established as well as to demonstrate the usefulness of these cultures in molecula r studies. (C) 1994 Academic Press,Inc.