[Enhanced proliferation of human lung cancer cells during culture in diffusion chambers]

A comparative evaluation of the rate of proliferation of lung tumor cells from 23 patients and that of primary diffusion chamber cultures implanted to mice was carried out. Proliferation rate was determined on the basis of 3H-thymidine labeling index. Explanted tumor cells which had undergone further cultivation showed an increase in proliferative rate. The latter effect was particularly marked in adenocarcinoma. The said effect was not observed in small-cell carcinoma. These data suggest that cells of certain human tumors are capable of high proliferation. This property may be used with a view to raising effectiveness of cytotoxic antitumor chemotherapy.