Development of tumor cell lines.

A number of techniques are now in use in attempting to establish cell lines from human solid tumors. Although short-term cultures are readily attained, relatively few become established as permanent cell lines, especially from primary carcinomas where metastasis has not already occurred and from such organs as the breast, prostate, and pancreas. With recent advances in techniques and in our knowledge of growth factors, however, these difficulties may be resolved in the near future.