In vitro characteristics of a sacrococcygeal chordoma maintained in tissue and organ culture systems.

Explants of a human sacral chordoma were successfully maintained on collagen-coated coverslips, gelfoam sponge matrices, and Millipore filter platforms for up to 30 days. Tumor cells cultured on collagen-coated coverslips became increasingly vacuolated whereas those maintained in organ culture were entirely free of vacuoles after 22 days in vitro. A single basic tumor cell, small and polygonal with a large central spherical nucleus and abundant endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, was recognized. Vacuoles were formed as the result of the progressive expansion of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Coalescence of these vacuoles produced the physaliferous cell of light microscopy.