International Journal of Cell Cloning, Vol 7, 59-66, Copyright © 1989 by AlphaMed Press
Epidermal growth factor effect on serum-free growth of primary and metastatic human tumors
SE Singletary, D Frappaz, SL Tucker, L Larry, WA Brock and G Spitzer
Department of Surgery, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030.
The effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the in vitro growth of human
malignant tumors was compared in serum-supplemented (n = 54) and serum-free
(N = 41) media at clonal density to determine the true EGF dependency of
tumors. In the complete absence of serum at a 1,000 cells/cm2 seeding
inoculation (approximately 100-200 adherent cells), EGF increased growth by
greater than 50% in 27 of 41 specimens (66%), and growth increased by 100%
or more in 18 of these EGF-sensitive tumors. In 12 serum-free cultures
(29%), in vitro growth failed to occur without EGF. With 10% serum
supplementation and a lower cell density (250 cells/cm2), EGF increased
growth by greater than 50% in 34 of 54 specimens (63%), of which 25 had
more than a 100% increase. The maximum growth induced by EGF in serum was
usually seen in those tumors already capable of moderate in vitro growth.
No difference in response to EGF was detected between specimens from
primary tumors (n = 24) and those from metastases (n = 30). Under the
stringent culture conditions of complete absence of serum and with tumors
seeded at a low cell number, EGF stimulated most primary or metastatic
human tumors to establish and sustain short-term in vitro growth
successfully.
