Preservation of brain tumor specimens for drug sensitivity testing

To examine the feasibility of shipment of brain tumor specimens to a central laboratory for drug sensitivity testing, an experimental gliosarcoma (9L) was grown subcutaneously in rats, harvested, stored, and disaggregated. Growth of the disaggregated tumor cells in monolayer culture was evaluated after storage for various times at 2 to 6 degrees C and 37 degrees C in saline and minimum essential medium. Growth potential was maintained for 24 hours when tumor specimens were stored under refrigerated conditions and was best maintained when specimens were stored in saline. Specimens stored at 37 degrees C grew best when stored in minimum essential medium, but growth potential was lost after 12 hours unless the specimens were refrigerated. Shipment of tumor specimens to a central laboratory for drug sensitivity testing appears to be feasible, since under most circumstances, specimens should reach the laboratory for processing within 24 hours of their removal. Storage and transport of specimens in saline on wet ice appears to be optimal.