Methods for using centrifugal elutriation to separate malignant and lymphoid cell populations.

Malignant cells and non-neoplastic host cells were isolated from in vivo growing solid tumors of 2 BALB/c transplantable tumors: EMT6/Ro, a mammary sarcoma, and Line 1, an alveolar cell carcinoma. The technique of centrifugal elutriation was used to separate these 2 major types of cells present within solid tumors. In addition it was found that 2 successive passages through the elutriator of the cells from the tumors resulted in a better separation of the host cells into lymphocyte and macrophage populations than was possible by an optimally designed single passage. Thus this technique can provide sufficient host cells, essentially devoid of malignant cells, for further functional analysis.