Sympathetic ganglia augment growth of neuroblastoma in vitro.

The sympathetic nervous system modulates the growth of C-1300 mouse neuroblastoma (C-1300 NB) in vivo. We now report that the presence of sympathetic cervical ganglia in cultures containing C-1300 NB or dispersed S-20 neuroblastoma (S-20 NB) cells augments growth of these tumors in vitro. Sympathetic ganglia-conditioned medium increases proliferation and survival of S-20 NB cells, indicating that nervous system-derived growth factors can exert an effect on neoplastic cells.