Figure 5

Identification of different cell types within tumor slices: (a) epithelial cells were identified using an anti-HEA-125 antibody recognizing an epithelial specific adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM). The morphology of epithelial cell clusters in slices cultivated for 96 hours (left panel) was compared to that observed in sections from paraffin embedded material from the same tumor prepared immediately after surgery labeled either with anti-HEA-125 (middle panel; counterstained with hematoxylin) or anti-cytokeratin 18 (right panel; counterstained with hematoxylin). (b) To visualize the vascular network tissue slices cultured for 96 hours were directly labeled using a PE-conjugated CD34 antibody (left panel) or a FITC-conjugated Ulex europaeus Agglutinin I (UEA-1; middle panel). The morphology of this network is comparable to that observed in paraffin embedded material obtained directly after surgery and stained with CD34 antibody (right panel, counterstained with hematoxylin). (c) Simultaneous staining of epithelial cells and determination of cell viability in slices treated with or without taxol for 72 hours. Epithelial cells were identified using a FITC-conjugated anti-HEA-125 antibody (green). Cell viability was determined using the two DNA selective dyes PI (red) and SYTO^®63 (blue).