A preparative suspension culture system permitting quantitation of anchorage-independent growth by direct radiolabeling of cellular DNA.

We have developed a hybrid methylcellulose/agar suspension culture system which permits long-term colony formation of transformed mesenchymal cells. In contrast to traditional agar suspensions, our system allows for recovery of cells and direct biochemical analysis of anchorage-independent growth. The ability to readily radiolabel cellular macromolecules in these preparative cultures permits a quantitative and objective analysis of colony formation by incorporation of [3H]thymidine into newly synthesized DNA.