Establishment and identification of human primary lung cancer cell culture in vitro

To explore a simple and practical method for human primary lung cancer cells culture in vitro.

Tumor specimens from 6 lung cancer patients were isolated with collagenase digestion cultured in vitro. Then the characteristics of these cells were analyzed and identified by optical microscope observation, hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunocytochemistry, immunohistochemistry and tumor nude mice inoculation experiments, respectively.

Except for the small cell lung cancer, the other 5 samples were successfully isolated and cultured. The cultured cells showed typical characteristics of malignant cells and positive for cytokeratin 7 and 19. Moreover, the cancer cells readily formed subcutaneous tumors in nude mice and the pathological images of the transplanted tumor were consistent with its tumor origin.

The primary culture for human lung cancer cells can be successfully achieved with the method of collagenase digestion.