Production of prostaglandins and thromboxane by isolated cells from intracranial tumours

Abstract

Tumour cell-rich platelet-free preparations were isolated from 21 fresh samples of human intracranial tumours using enzymic digestion, followed by discontinuous density gradient centrifugation on Percoll and (14 preparations) adherence on plastic. Of the disaggregated cells 79.8 to 97.7% (mean 86.2%) were tumour cells, and mean cell viability was 82.6%. All the tumours produced prostaglandin (PG), E2, F2α, 6 oxo F1α and Thromboxane B2 during 16 hours of incubation but the amount varied widely. Highest production of PGE, and TXB2 per 105 cells was by the eight meningiomas in which the prostanoid profile closely resembled that of circulating monocytes.