Soft-agar cultures of transitional cell carcinoma colonies from urine, irrigation fluids and tumor samples.

Soft-agar cultures of transitional cell carcinoma from urine, irrigation fluid and transurethral resection solid tumor specimens show good colony growth. Growth of tumor colonies produced from urine was adequate to evaluate the presence of a viable tumor, since 12 of 18 noninfected cultures showed growth. The number of colonies produced was adequate to evaluate the sensitivity or resistance to chemotherapy agents in only 3 of 18 cultures. For irrigation fluid, similar results were obtained: 9 of 17 noninfected cultures showed growth, while only 3 of 17 were adequate for drug-sensitivity evaluation. For the evaluation of sensitivity or resistance, tumor cell suspensions were most appropriate, 7 of 25 noninfected cultures showed 30 or more colonies/dish, whereas 17 of 25 showed growth. With the possibility of obtaining growth of tumor cells derived from urine, a prospective study is proposed to define the value of repeated urine cultures in monitoring the status of the urothelium of patients treated for transitional cell carcinoma.