Open AccessSurvival and Hormonal Responsiveness of Endometrial Carcinoma in Organ Culture
Author(s) -
Nordqvist Staffan
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016347009157251
Subject(s) - medicine , hormone , organ culture , stromal cell , carcinoma , explant culture , endometrium , in vivo , endocrinology , uterus , in vitro , biology , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
. Explants from endometrial carcinomas survived well in organ culture during the period studied (7–8 days). The glandular architecture was similar to that in the original carcinomas. Outgrowth in the sponge matrix of cells was correlated to the degree of survival of the primary explants. Stromal disappearance was a common feature. Progesterone greatly impaired the survival, this effect being dose dependent. Estradiol potentiated the effect of progesterone, particularly with respect to less well differentiated carcinomas. The hormonal effects were histologically different from those obtained during in vivo experiments by other observers, who administered systemic progestogens to patients with endometrial carcinoma, but were similar to those obtained after intracavitary administration of progestogens. It is believed that the cytostatic effect is a more relevant factor for the evaluation of progesterone effects on tumour growth than are signs of increased differentiation, since secretory vacuoles could be seen also in cultures not treated with the hormone.