Culture of basal cell carcinoma

Studies of basal cell carcinoma have been hindered by a lack of a suitable and reproducible tissue-culture model system. We have succeeded in growing this tumor in primary culture from eight different patients. We can separate and grow the tumor cells and the stromal cell component. We also culture normal keratinocytes and fibroblasts from the same patient for comparative studies. All the cell types have been subcultured four to five times and cryopreserved. The normal keratinocytes were indistinguishable from the tumor cells in ploidy, in rate of growth, and in the failure to express ICAM-1. Both cell types also fail to synthesize the matrix proteins: types I and IV collagens. Differences were noted in the expression of fibronectin and the bullous pemphigoid antigen, with the normal cells expressing the antigens although the tumor cells did not. Interferons exogenously added to the culture media preferentially killed the basal cell carcinoma cells, as compared to normal keratinocytes from the same patients. We believe that our culture system opens possibilities for biochemical and molecular studies of this disease, and for in vitro testing of antitumor agents for clinical therapy.