Establishment and characterization of a human colon carcinoma cell line (KMS-4) from a patient with hereditary adenomatosis of the colon and rectum

Generation of tumor-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of colorectal cancer patients for adoptive T-cell transfer

This study designs a strategy for an adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) protocol based on the ex-vivo selection of autologous peripheral blood-derived CD8-enriched T-cells, stimulated with dendritic cells (DCs) that had been pulsed with apoptotic tumor cells to generate cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) with anti-tumor activity. Seventy-eight colorectal cancer (CRC) patients were enrolled in this study. Tumor tissues and peripheral blood (PB) were obtained at surgery. Tissues were mechanically dissociated and cultured to obtain a primary tumor cell line from each patient. DCs were derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using magnetic positive selection of CD14+ monocytes. Anti-tumor CTLs were elicited in co-/micro-cultures using DCs as antigen-presenting cells, autologous apoptotic tumor cells as a source of antigens, and CD8+ T lymphocytes as effectors. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secretion was assessed by ELISpot assays to evaluate the activation of the CTLs against the autologous tumor cells. Primary tumor cell lines were obtained from 20 of 78 patients (25.6%). DCs were generated from 26 patients, and of them, corresponding tumor cell lines were derived from six patients. ELISpot results showed that significant IFN-γ secretion was detected after different numbers of stimulations for two patients, whereas weak secretion was observed for three patients. Despite difficulties due to contamination of several primary tumor cell lines with gut intestinal flora, the results suggest that the generation of tumor-specific CTLs is feasible from patients with CRC, and could be useful for supporting an ACT approach in CRC.

Establishment of human colon cancer cell lines from fresh tumors versus xenografts: comparison of success rate and cell line features

Obtaining representative human colon cancer cell lines from fresh tumors is technically difficult. Using 32 tumor fragments from patients with colon cancer, the present study shows that prior xenograft leads to more efficient cell line establishment compared with direct establishment from fresh tumors (P < 0.05). From 26 tumor specimens, we successfully established 20 tumor xenografts in nude mice (77%); among 19 of these xenografts, 9 (47%) led to cell lines, including four from liver metastases. Only 3 of 31 tumor specimens (9.7%) grew immediately in vitro, and all were derived from primary tumors. To compare major phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of human colon cancer cell lines derived from the same tumor fragment using two protocols, the two pairs of cell lines obtained from 2 of 32 tumor fragments were extensively studied. They displayed similar morphology and were able to form compact spheroids. Chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil, CPT11, and L-OHP differed between cell lines obtained from patient tumors and those derived from xenografts. Matched cell lines shared a common core of karyotype alterations and distinctive additional chromosomal aberrations. Expression levels of genes selected for their role in oncogenesis evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR were found to be statistically correlated whatever the in vitro culture model used. In conclusion, xenotransplantation in mice of tumor fragments before establishment of cell lines enables generation of more novel human cancer cell lines for investigation of colon cancer cell biology, opening up the opportunity of reproducing the diversity of this disease.

Association and regulation of casein kinase 2 activity by adenomatous polyposis coli protein

Mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene are responsible for familial adenomatous polyposis coli and also sporadic colorectal cancer development. By using antibodies raised against the N-terminal region of APC protein, we have detected the variable masses of endogenous APC proteins in individual cell lines established from human colorectal carcinomas caused by nonsense mutations of the gene. Phosphorylation of immunoprecipitates of full-length and truncated APC were observed in in vitro kinase reaction, indicating association of APC with protein kinase activity. The kinase activity complexed with APC was sensitive to heparin and used GTP as phosphoryl donor, suggesting an involvement of casein kinase 2 (CK2). Both CK2alpha- and beta-subunits were found to associate with APC in immunoprecipitates as well as in pull-down assays, with preferential interaction of APC with tetrameric CK2 holoenzyme. In synchronized cell populations, the association of APC with CK2 was cell cycle dependent, with the highest association in G(2)/M. Unexpectedly, APC immunoprecipitates containing full-length APC protein inhibited CK2 in vitro, whereas immunoprecipitates of truncated APC had little effect. This was confirmed by using recombinant APC, and the inhibitory region was localized to the C terminus of APC between residues 2086 and 2394. Overexpression of this fragment in SW480 cells suppressed cell proliferation rates as well as tumorigenesis. These results demonstrate a previously uncharacterized functional interaction between the tumor suppressor protein APC and CK2 and suggest that growth-inhibitory effects of APC may be regulated by inhibition of CK2.

Establishment and characterization of a human colon cancer cell line, OUMS-23, from a patient with familial adenomatous polyposis

A human colon carcinoma cell line designated OUMS-23 has been established from metastatic pericardial fluid of a male familial adenomatous polyposis patient with colon cancer. Since 1984, the epithelial cells have been maintained in culture. Ultrastructural studies revealed the presence of numerous microvilli on the cell surface and desmosomes between the adjacent cells. The cells secreted carcinoembryonic antigen into the culture medium (15 ng/10(6) cells-1 24 h-1). The cells expressed heat-stable placental-type-like alkaline phosphatase, whereas the normal counterparts expressed tissue-unspecific alkaline phosphatase. Karyotypic analysis showed that the cell line was of human origin and that the chromosome number was broadly distributed between 53 and 118. Southern blot analysis of the APC gene revealed no abnormalities in OUMS-24 cells, while Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the expression of the gene was about one-half that of the normal human fibroblasts. No mutations at the "hot spots" of codons 12 and 61 of H-, K- and N-ras proto-oncogenes were detected in the cells. The cells could grow in soft agar at a cloning efficiency of 6.5%, and upon transplantation into nude mice the cells formed tumors, which were diagnosed as differentiated adenocarcinoma.

Enhanced phosphoinositide metabolism in colorectal carcinoma cells derived from familial adenomatous polyposis patients

The production of the second messenger molecules diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate is mediated by activated phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PLC) enzymes. We report the enhancement of the phosphoinositide metabolism pathway in KMS-4 and KMS-8 cells, both of which are human colorectal carcinoma cell lines derived from familial adenomatous polyposis patients. In these cells, the cellular contents of diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate were constitutively increased and the PLC activity in vitro was significantly high, as compared with those in normal colon cells or in other sporadic colorectal carcinoma cells. Northern and Western analyses showed the high expression levels of both PLC-gamma 1 and PLC-delta 1 in KMS-4 and KMS-8 cells. Moreover, we detected the enhancement of protein-tyrosine kinase activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 in these KMS cells. These results suggest the involvement of activated phosphoinositide signaling pathways in the colorectal tumorigenesis of familial adenomatous polyposis.

Apoptosis induced by inhibition of intercellular contact

The LIM 1863 colon carcinoma cell line grows as structural organoids of goblet and columnar cells around a central lumen and provides a model for the development of stem cells in the normal colon. The organoid structure can be disrupted by removal of calcium from the medium, resulting in a suspension of single cells. Upon readdition of calcium, the cells reform the organoid structure over a period of 24 h, and ultrastructural examination of the reforming cells reveals that this involves a complex process that we have termed clutching. To determine the adhesion molecules involved in organoid formation we attempted to block this process by single cell suspensions of LIM 1863 reseeded in the presence of monoclonal antibodies. An anti-integrin antibody directed against a conformational epitope on the alpha v subunit totally inhibited organoid reformation. As a consequence of this inhibition of cell contact the colon carcinoma cells rapidly underwent apoptosis. Investigations of the apoptotic pathway involved suggested an induction mechanism since the onset of apoptosis in the contact-inhibited cells showed specific increased synthesis of 68- and 72-kD proteins. In addition, immunoblotting of cytosolic and nuclear extracts of the cells revealed the rapid translocation of the tumor suppressor gene product, p53 to the cell nucleus upon induction of apoptosis. These results suggest that cell-cell adhesion may be a vital regulator of colon development overcome in tumor cells by loss of adhesion molecules or of functional p53 protein.

Expression from the proximal promoter of the carbonic anhydrase 1 gene as a marker for differentiation in colon epithelia

Carbonic anhydrase 1 (CA1) catalyses the reversible hydration of CO2 and is important for cellular diffusion of CO2, ion transport and pH regulation. The gene encoding CA1 (CA1) has two promoters. In adult colon epithelia the proximal promoter determines high levels of expression and the distal erythroid promoter is repressed. RNA in situ hybridisation shows that CA1 mRNA is abundant in differentiating cells of the colonic crypt as they migrate to the luminal surface, but is not present at the base of the crypts and levels are low on the luminal surface. It is likely that CA1 gene expression in these cells is regulated by differential transcription and/or mRNA stability. In contrast CA1 protein is localised predominantly on the luminal surface. Since CA1 mRNA and protein do not exactly co-localise it can be inferred that CA1 expression is also subject to post-transcriptional control. CA1 mRNA is significantly reduced in colon carcinoma and in adenomas from familial adenomatous polyposis patients. Loss of CA1 expression is associated with the disappearance of differentiated epithelial cells. Out of twelve colon carcinoma cell lines three, LIM1215, LIM1899 and HT115, expressed CA1 and nine did not. This variation in expression may also be associated with cell type differentiation.

Characterization of the DiFi rectal carcinoma cell line derived from a familial adenomatous polyposis patient

The DiFi human colorectal cancer cell line was recently established from a familial adenomatous polyposis patient with extracolonic features characteristic of the Gardner syndrome. These cells have now been propagated for 150 passages in standard culture media and vessels without feeder layers or collagen coatings. They retain features of colonic epithelial cells such as surface microvilli, secretory vesicles, and desmosomes. Cytosol of DiFi cells contains a high level (502 U/mg protein) of the mucin CA 19-9. In addition, DiFi cells produce carcinoembryonic antigen, and induce tumors in athymic mice. Cytoskeleton analysis of DiFi cells by fluorescence microscopy showed a pronounced disorganization of actin cable structure. The isozyme genetic signature of DiFi cells is unique (0.01 probability of finding the same genetic signature in a different cell line), differs from that of HeLa cells, and has expressional features seen in other colorectal cell lines. The DiFi cell karyotype is tetraploid, contains many marker chromosomes, and shows numerous episomal particles. Two copies of chromosome 18 were absent, and only a single normal chromosome 17 was found. This parallels detection of allelic losses from DiFi cell DNA at loci on chromosomes 17p and 18 using molecular (cDNA) probes. DiFi cells clearly express transcripts for the c-myc proto-oncogene, the c-myb proto-oncogene, and the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Transforming growth factor beta inhibits DiFi cell growth in soft agar and suppresses c-myc expression in these cells. The value of this cell line in the study of genetic alterations in colorectal cancer is discussed.

Cytogenetic characterization of a colon adenocarcinoma from a familial polyposis coli patient

We report on the cytogenetic findings in a fresh biopsy of a colorectal adenocarcinoma in a patient with familial polyposis coli (FAP). The stemline had 45 chromosomes with several clonal chromosome aberrations including a der(17)t(17;?), and -18, which are the two most recurrent aberrations in sporadic colorectal carcinomas. This finding is discussed in relation to the chromosomal changes described in sporadic colorectal carcinomas and in FAP cell lines.

The establishment and characterization of two new cell lines derived from a single human colonic adenocarcinoma

Two cell lines with different in vitro growth characteristics were established from a single mucinous colonic adenocarcinoma. Epithelial cells of the line 5583-E demonstrated anchorage-dependent growth while those of line 5583-S were anchorage-independent and grew as multicellular floating spheroids. Both cell lines shared common characteristics with respect to the expression of differentiation markers (secretory component, carcinoembryonic antigen), mucins and karyotype (trisomy 12 and 14, marker chromosome) but also showed consistent differences. In nude mice 5583-S cells formed moderately differentiated mucinous adenocarcinomas with high carcinoembryonic antigen and mucin production, whereas 5583-E xenografts were poorly differentiated and almost entirely failed to produce carcinoembryonic antigen and mucins. The plating efficiency of 5583-E cells appeared to be greater and doubling time shorter than those of 5583-S cells. Furthermore, 5583-E cells showed an extra isochromosome, 1q. The cell lines were genotypically and phenotypically stable over a period of 2 years. Our results reemphasize that multiple cell lines with heterogeneous phenotypic and genotypic characteristics can be obtained from a single primary tumor.

Differential growth response of normal human diploid fibroblasts and in vitro transformed human fibroblasts in serum-free defined culture medium

Two neoplastic human cell lines, WI-38 CT-1 and SUSM-1, which were transformed in vitro with gamma rays and 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide, respectively, grew continuously in a serum-free defined medium. The defined medium used was a 1:1 mixture by volume of Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium and Ham's F12 (DF) supplemented with 0.1% bovine serum albumin fraction V, 10 micrograms/ml of transferrin, 1 microgram/ml of insulin, and 5 micrograms/ml of oleic acid. In the case of SUSM-1, 100 micrograms/ml of fetuin were added to cultures when the cells were subcultured. Under these conditions the growth rates of the two transformed human cell lines were almost the same as those in a DF medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). In addition, the defined medium permitted the cells to grow indefinitely without a lag period when they were transferred from serum-containing medium into this defined medium, indicating that no selection or adaptation of the cells had occurred. Interestingly, these cell lines did not require for their growth any polypeptide growth factors such as epidermal, platelet-derived or fibroblast growth factors. On the other hand, the control WI-38 cells stopped growing in the defined medium after about 2 divisions. Another control normal cell strain of fibroblasts derived from a human embryo showed a decreased growth rate in the defined medium as compared with that in the DF medium with 10% FBS. These results suggest that the defined medium described here is useful for the selective growth of human cells transformed in vitro after treatment with carcinogens from an untransformed cell population. In addition, the defined medium for transformed human cells should contribute to studies on their growth mechanisms.

The isolation and characterization of colorectal epithelial cell lines at different stages in malignant transformation from familial polyposis coli patients

The genetic disease familial polyposis coli (hereditary adenomatosis of the colon and rectum) provides an excellent model for the study of tumour progression in the large bowel. We have isolated and characterized four epithelial cell lines from colorectal tumours from polyposis coli patients. These cell lines are grown on collagen-coated Petri dishes in the presence of mouse 3T3 feeder cells in medium containing 20% foetal bovine serum. Of these cell lines three were isolated from premalignant adenomas and one from an adenocarcinoma. All four lines have a characteristic cuboidal epithelial morphology, and their epithelial origin was confirmed by positive staining with a monoclonal antibody which reacts specifically with the keratin filaments of simple epithelia. The adenoma-derived lines display ultrastructural features characteristic of colonic epithelium including desmosomes, microvilli and mucin droplets. One of the adenoma-derived cell lines, designated PC/AA, has retained differentiated functions in culture, namely mucin production, after 21 in vitro passages. PC/AA has a karyotype of 46, XY with no detectable chromosome rearrangements. The adenoma-derived lines could be passaged from clumps of cells but not from single cells even in the presence of 3T3 feeder cells. The carcinoma-derived line, designated PC/JW, could however grow from single cells in the presence of a feeder layer. The one premalignant adenoma-derived line tested so far, PC/AA, did not produce tumours in athymic nude mice. In contrast, the carcinoma-derived line, PC/JW was tumorigenic in athymic nude mice. PC/JW produced moderately well-differentiated tumours which were histologically similar to the adenocarcinoma from which the cell line was isolated. PC/JW has a near-diploid chromosome number with an isochromosome (1q), an isochromosome (14q) and an (Xp; 17q) translocation. Unidentified marker chromosomes were present in a few cells. The features at present which distinguish the carcinoma-derived line from the adenoma-derived lines are tumorigenicity, growth from single cells and chromosomal abnormalities. The isolation and characterization of differentiating human epithelial cell lines at different stages in malignant transformation provide an opportunity to examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling tumour progression in the large intestine, and to obtain an insight into the multistep process of human epithelial carcinogenesis.