In vitro characteristics of a sacrococcygeal chordoma maintained in tissue and organ culture systems

Summary Explants of a human sacral chordoma were successfully maintained on collagen-coated coverslips, gelfoam sponge matrices, and Millipore filter platforms for up to 30 days. Tumor cells cultured on collagen-coated coverslips became increasingly vacuolated whereas those maintained in organ culture were entirely free of vacuoles after 22 days in vitro. A single basic tumor cell, small and polygonal with a large central spherical nucleus and abundant endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, was recognized. Vacuoles were formed as the result of the progressive expansion of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Coalescence of these vacuoles produced the physaliferous cell of light microscopy.Supported by Research Grant CA-11689 from the National Cancer Institute and Graduate Neuropathology Training Grant 5T01 NS 5500-10 from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, U.S.P.H.S.