Spherical, heterogeneous aggregates of proliferating, quiescent, and necrotic cells in culture that retain three-dimensional architecture and tissue-specific functions. The ability to form spheroids is a characteristic trait of CULTURED TUMOR CELLS derived from solid TUMORS. Cells from normal tissues can also form spheroids. They represent an in-vitro model for studies of the biology of both normal and malignant cells. (From Bjerkvig, Spheroid Culture in Cancer Research, 1992, p4)

Annotation

do not confuse with "spheroid bodies" referring to axons in neuropathol; if tumor spheroids coordinate with TUMOR CELLS, CULTURED

DUI

D018874 MeSH Browser

CUI

M0028227

Previous indexing

Tissue Culture (1966-1971); Cells, Cultured (1972-1995); Tumor Cells, Cultured (1988-1995)

History note

2004(1996)

Public note

2004(1996); see SPHEROIDS 1996-2003