FIGURE 2.

Schematic visualisation of primary cancer cell line development. Cancerous tissue can be dissociated by three different methods. The enzymatic method utilises enzymes such as collagenase, dispase, DNase, depending on tissue structure. The chemical method makes use of EDTA or EGTA that causes the loosening of intercellular bonds. Methods are often combined, for example mechanical tissue disaggregation with a scalpel, followed by enzymatic digestion. Afterwards, tumour tissue is seeded onto a plate, and cells are grown in 2D culture or 3D culture, in form of organoids or spheroids. The last step of primary cell line development is cell culture in appropriate conditions and further expansion of cancer culture.