ASSESSMENT OF METHODS FOR PRIMARY TISSUE-CULTURE OF HUMAN BREAST EPITHELIA

A serie of 29 human normal, benign and malignant breast tissues were c ultivated in an attempt to isolate and propagate primary breast epithe lial cells in vitro. Explants methodology as well as disaggregation te chniques (enzymatic and mechanical) were employed to obtain better cul ture conditions. Cells derived from breast malignant tissue were propa gated in an appropriate and survived in culture fbr at least 6 months, exhibiting a marked preference to grow in suspension (independent anc horage). Tumorigenicity assays in nude mice were performed with malign ant cells obtained from primary culture cells as well as with cells ac hieved from successive passages. The rate of long time cell survival f rom malignant and non-malignant tissues demonstrated the accuracy of t he methodology but it also emphasised the need for improving technolog y to obtain cell lines with long survival.