Main description:

Continuous cell lines derived from human cancers are the most widely used resource in laboratory-based cancer research. The first 3 volumes of this series on Human Cell Culture are devoted to these cancer cell lines. The chapters in these first 3 volumes have a common aim. Their purpose is to address 3 questions of fundamental importance to the relevance of human cancer cell lines as model systems of each type of cancer: 1. Do the cell lines available accurately represent the clinical presentation? 2. Do the cell lines accurately represent the histopathology of the original tumors? 3. Do the cell lines accurately represent the molecular genetics of this type of cancer? The cancer cell lines available are derived, in most cases, from the more aggressive and advanced cancers. There are few cell lines derived from low grade organ-confined cancers. This gap can be filled with conditionally immortalized human cancer cell lines. We do not know why the success rate for establishing cell lines is so low for some types of cancer and so high for others. The histopathology of the tumor of origin and the extent to which the derived cell line retains the differentiated features of that tumor are critical. The concept that a single cell line derived from a tumor at a particular site is representative of tumors at that site is naive and misleading.

Contents:

Foreword to the Series. Introduction. 1. Sarcomas; B.A. Teicher. 2. Neuroblastoma; C.J. Thiele. 3. Ewing's Sarcoma Family of Tumors; F. van Valen. 4. Malignant Mesothelioma; M.A. Versnel. 5. Pancreatic Tumors; T. Iwamura, M.A. Hollingsworth. 6. Adrenal Cortex; W.E. Rainey, J.J. Mrotek. 7. Thyroid Gland; T. Hoelting. 8. Pituitary Gland; L.J. Hofland, S.W.J. Lamberts. 9. Salivary Gland Tumors; M. Sato. 10. Esophageal Cancers; Y. Shimada. 11. Bladder Cancer; R. Knuechel, J.R.W. Masters. 12. Renal Cell Cancer; T. Ebert, et al. 13. Skin Cancer (Non-Melanoma); P. Boukamp. 14. Melanoma: The Wister Melanoma (WM) Cell Lines; M.-Yu Hau, et al. 15. Melanoma: Brussels Melanoma Cell Lines; F. Brasseur. 16. Melanoma: The Milan Melanoma Cell Lines; A. Anichini, et al.