A study of the growth requirements of human tumour cells in tissue culture

The effect of potential growth enhancing substances and other environmental factors on the growth of human cells in culture were examined. For all the cell lines tested the optimum pH range was 7 . 45-7 . 55. Optimum osmolality varied with different cell lines, optimum values being 240 milliosmoles/kg for melanoma cell lines and foetal fibroblasts, 260 milliosmoles/kg for adult fibroblasts and 300 milliosmoles/kg for a breast cancer cell line. A number of hormones were found to affect the growth of the cell lines examined. Insulin and hydrocortisone enhanced the growth of all the tumour cells tested, whereas 17 beta-oestradiol enhanced the growth of breast cancer cells but inhibited the growth of melanoma cells and fibroblasts. Stilboestrol inhibited the growth of all the cell lines but prolactin enhanced the growth of melanoma cells and inhibited fibroblast cell growth. Addition of galactose to the medium stimulated the growth of all cell lines tested, whereas sucrose and fructose resulted in stimulation of tumour cell growth but had little effect on fibroblasts. alpha-thioglycerol and beta-mercaptoethanol enhanced the growth of the tumour cells but had little effect on the growth of fibroblasts. A modified medium has been formulated which enhanced the growth of all the cell lines used when compared with McCoy's 5A medium.