In vitro growth of renal cell carcinoma after preoperative renal infarction.

Renal cell carcinoma tissue was cultured from 2 patients who underwent embolization of the tumor before surgery and from 2 patients who did not have the tumor embolized. A combination of small Gelfoam particles and polyvinyl alcohol foam particles (250-590 mu diameter) was used to devascularize maximally the tumors that were embolized. The tumor cells from all 4 patients grew in short-term tissue cultures and demonstrated histology and growth properties characteristic of tumor cells. Successful embolization of renal cell carcinomas may not completely infarct the primary tumor, and local tumor growth may continue.