Growth curves: a method of monitoring established long-term primary human tumor cell cultures for autologous immunotherapy.

Cytomorphologic methods evidentiate tumor cells (TC) and differentiate them from fibroblasts, but are not indicated f for long term cultures. Growth rate and curve shape of TC and autologous fibroblasts cultures were recorded and compared over 4 weeks. Both were morphologically documented ex vivo and after MGG stain. No fibroblast overgrowth was noted in the TC cultures. The cultures showed rather peculiar curves with little variability among TC cultures. The 1st-week rate was higher in the TC cultures (p < .01). Growth curve evaluation with ex vivo observation of the morphology is- an alternative method in monitoring TC cultures for autologous immunotherapy.