Continuous cell lines derived from human cancers are the mostwidely used resource in laboratory-based cancer research. The first 3 volumes of this series on Human Cell Culture are devoted to these cancer cell lines. The chapters in these first 3 volumes have a common aim. Their purpose is to address 3 questions offundamental importance to the relevanceof human cancer cell lines as model systems of each type of cancer: 1. Do the cell lines available accurately represent the clinical presentation? 2. Do the cell lines accurately represent the histopathology of the original tumors? 3. Do the...

The human body contains many specialized tissues that are capable of fulfilling an incredible variety of functions necessary for our survival. This volume in the Human Cell Culture Series focuses on mesenchymal tissues and cells. The in vitro study of mesenchymal cells is perhaps the oldest form of human cell culture, beginning with the culturing of fibroblasts. Fibroblasts have long been generically described in the literature, arising from many tissue types upon in vitro cell culture. However, recent studies, many enabled by new molecular biology techniques, have shown considerable...

This guide to growing human cancer in vitro begins with an essential chapter on characterization. Subsequent chapters describe the development of serum-free media and then deal with three research applications cell differentiation and its control; the growth of cells in three dimensions in vitro and

Growing human cancer cells in primary culture requires patience, intuition, care and experience. This is one of the few areas where the wrinkled senior scientist can be more productive than the bright young post-doc. There are few mechanical aids, no automated procedures, and kits are unheard-of. There is no right way to do it and every tumour is different. But this book will make it easier Chapter 1 on characterization is essential reading. Much published work is useless because of the failure to take two simple steps to characterise the cells. The first step is to fully record all the...