Karyotype consistency in human colorectal carcinoma cell lines established in vitro

Probing altered enzyme activity in the biochemical characterization of cancer

Enzymes have evolved to catalyze their precise reactions at the necessary rates, locations, and time to facilitate our development, to respond to a variety of insults and challenges, and to maintain a healthy, balanced state. Enzymes achieve this extraordinary feat through their unique kinetic parameters, myriad regulatory strategies, and their sensitivity to their surroundings, including substrate concentration and pH. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) highlights the extraordinary number of ways in which the finely tuned activities of enzymes can be disrupted, contributing to cancer development and progression often due to somatic and/or inherited genetic alterations. Rather than being limited to the domain of enzymologists, kinetic constants such as k_cat, K_m, and k_cat/K_m are highly informative parameters that can impact a cancer patient in tangible ways—these parameters can be used to sort tumor driver mutations from passenger mutations, to establish the pathways that cancer cells rely on to drive patients’ tumors, to evaluate the selectivity and efficacy of anti-cancer drugs, to identify mechanisms of resistance to treatment, and more. In this review, we will discuss how changes in enzyme activity, primarily through somatic mutation, can lead to altered kinetic parameters, new activities, or changes in conformation and oligomerization. We will also address how changes in the tumor microenvironment can affect enzymatic activity, and briefly describe how enzymology, when combined with additional powerful tools, and can provide us with tremendous insight into the chemical and molecular mechanisms of cancer.

Nkx2.5 Functions as a Conditional Tumor Suppressor Gene in Colorectal Cancer Cells via Acting as a Transcriptional Coactivator in p53-Mediated p21 Expression

NK2 homeobox 5 (Nkx2.5), a homeobox-containing transcription factor, is associated with a spectrum of congenital heart diseases. Recently, Nkx2.5 was also found to be differentially expressed in several kinds of tumors. In colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue and cells, hypermethylation of Nkx2.5 was observed. However, the roles of Nkx2.5 in CRC cells have not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we assessed the relationship between Nkx2.5 and CRC by analyzing the expression pattern of Nkx2.5 in CRC samples and the adjacent normal colonic mucosa (NCM) samples, as well as in CRC cell lines. We found higher expression of Nkx2.5 in CRC compared with NCM samples. CRC cell lines with poorer differentiation also had higher expression of Nkx2.5. Although this expression pattern makes Nkx2.5 seem like an oncogene, in vitro and in vivo tumor suppressive effects of Nkx2.5 were detected in HCT116 cells by establishing Nkx2.5-overexpressed CRC cells. However, Nkx2.5 overexpression was incapacitated in SW480 cells. To further assess the mechanism, different expression levels and mutational status of p53 were observed in HCT116 and SW480 cells. The expression of p21^WAF1/CIP1, a downstream antitumor effector of p53, in CRC cells depends on both expression level and mutational status of p53. Overexpressed Nkx2.5 could elevate the expression of p21^WAF1/CIP1 only in CRC cells with wild-type p53 (HCT116), rather than in CRC cells with mutated p53 (SW480). Mechanistically, Nkx2.5 could interact with p53 and increase the transcription of p21^WAF1/CIP1 without affecting the expression of p53. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that Nkx2.5 could act as a conditional tumor suppressor gene in CRC cells with respect to the mutational status of p53. The tumor suppressive effect of Nkx2.5 could be mediated by its role as a transcriptional coactivator in wild-type p53-mediated p21^WAF1/CIP1 expression.

TES inhibits colorectal cancer progression through activation of p38

The human TESTIN (TES) gene has been identified as a candidate tumor suppressor based on its location at a common fragile site – a region where loss of heterozygosity has been detected in numerous types of tumors. To investigate its role in colorectal cancer (CRC), we examined TES protein levels in CRC tissue samples and cell lines. We observed that TES was markedly reduced in both CRC tissue and cell lines. Additionally, overexpression of TES significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while increasing cell apoptosis in colon cancer cells. By contrast, shRNA-mediated TES knockdown elicited the opposite effects. TES inhibited the progression of CRC by up-regulating pro-apoptotic proteins, down-regulating anti-apoptotic proteins, and simultaneously activating p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Collectively, these data indicate that TES functions as a necessary suppressor of CRC progression by activating p38-MAPK signaling pathways. This suggests that TES may have a potential application in CRC diagnosis and targeted gene therapy.

Tumor-associated mutations in O⁶ -methylguanine DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) reduce DNA repair functionality

MGMT is the primary vehicle for cellular removal of alkyl lesions from the O-6 position of guanine and the O-4 position of thymine. While key to the maintenance of genomic integrity, MGMT also removes damage induced by alkylating chemotherapies, inhibiting the efficacy of cancer treatment. Germline variants of human MGMT are well-characterized, but somatic variants found in tumors were, prior to this work, uncharacterized. We found that MGMT G132R, from a human esophageal tumor, and MGMT G156C, from a human colorectal cancer cell line, are unable to rescue methyltransferase-deficient Escherichia coli as well as wild type (WT) human MGMT after treatment with a methylating agent. Using pre-steady state kinetics, we biochemically characterized these variants as having a reduced rate constant. G132R binds DNA containing an O⁶ -methylguanine lesion half as tightly as WT MGMT, while G156C has a 40-fold decrease in binding affinity for the same damaged DNA versus WT. Mammalian cells expressing either G132R or G156C are more sensitive to methylating agents than mammalian cells expressing WT MGMT. G132R is slightly resistant to O⁶ -benzylguanine, an inhibitor of MGMT in clinical trials, while G156C is almost completely resistant to this inhibitor. The impared functionality of expressed variants G132R and G156C suggests that the presence of somatic variants of MGMT in a tumor could impact chemotherapeutic outcomes.

Characterization of single-nucleotide polymorphisms relevant to inflammatory bowel disease in commonly used gastrointestinal cell lines

BACKGROUND

The era of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has led to the identification of many inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with unknown function. The next step would be to identify the functional consequences of these polymorphisms in order to target them efficiently for therapeutic purposes. One way to study this type of genetic variation is the use of cell line models. However, to characterize the functional effect of a SNP, it is important to know if the selected cell line model itself carries the studied genetic variation. Here, we genotyped 50 IBD markers across 32 susceptibility genes in 9 commonly used gastrointestinal cell lines.

METHODS

We used Sequenom, TaqMan, and DNA sequencing for the genotyping. To determine the expression profile of the selected genes, we conducted real-time RT-PCR.

RESULTS

We found variant SNPs in all analyzed cell lines. Almost every minor allele was carried by at least one of the tested cell lines. We analyzed the effect of 4 SNPs in more detail using quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) comprising genes ATG16L1, CD14, MDR1, and OCTN2. According to our data, only 2 of the commonly studied SNPs in MDR1 and CD14 have an impact on gene expression.

CONCLUSIONS

We have identified genotype variants in all analyzed cell lines. Some of them are functional and alter the response to drugs (MDR1) or affect bacterial recognition (TLR4, NOD2). Our results highlight that the genotype should not be neglected in experimental design when using model cell lines.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in human colorectal carcinoma

Matrix metalloproteinases are considered to play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. To elucidate the involvement of MMP-1 in human colorectal carcinoma, we performed immunohistochemical analysis on tissues from 20 colorectal adenomas and 142 colorectal adenocarcinomas, including 27 intramucosal carcinomas and 115 invasive carcinomas. MMP-1 was not expressed in any of the 20 cases of colorectal adenoma examined. In contrast, 108 of 142 cases (76.1%) with colorectal adenocarcinoma showed immunoreactivity for MMP-1 in the carcinoma cells themselves. Expression of MMP-1 was also identified in stromal cells around the carcinoma. We investigated the relationship between pathological features in colorectal carcinoma and MMP-1 immunoreactivity of the tumor cells. MMP-1 expression was less frequent in intramucosal carcinomas and weaker than that in invasive carcinomas (P < .0001). Among the 115 cases of invasive carcinomas, MMP-1 immunoreactivity was significantly correlated with the depth grading of tumor invasion (P < .05), tumor growth pattern (P < .05), the presence of lymphatic invasion (P < .05), venous invasion (P < .05), neural invasion (P < .05), lymph node metastasis (P < .005), hepatic metastasis (P < .05), and increasing stages of Dukes' classification (P < .05). In situ hybridization, using an MMP-1 oligonucleotide probe, confirmed the presence of MMP-1 mRNA in colorectal carcinoma cells themselves. Expression of MMP-1 mRNA was detected by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method in cultured human colorectal carcinoma cell lines and colon carcinoma tissue obtained at surgery. These findings suggest that the expression of MMP-1 is one of the important factors related to tumor invasion and metastasis in colorectal carcinoma.

Loss of epithelial differentiation markers and acquisition of vimentin expression after xenograft with laminin-1 enhance migratory and invasive abilities of human colon cancer cells LoVo C5

Clone C5 of the human colon adenocarcinoma LoVo cell line was subcutaneously injected with or without exogenous laminin-1 (EHS laminin) into immunosuppressed newborn rats. Cultures were initiated from lung metastases obtained with or without laminin-1 and gave rise to the C5 sublines LM and M4, respectively. The LM subline was mainly composed of spreading cells whereas most C5 and M4 cells remained round and aggregated. The mesenchymal marker vimentin was expressed by very rare C5 and M4 cells (< 1%), and by many LM cells (about 35%). On the opposite, the epithelial markers villin and dipeptidylpeptidase IV were well expressed by C5 cells but not by LM cells. In in vitro migration and invasion assays, LM cells migrated and invaded basement membrane extract twice as much as the parental C5 clone and the M4 subline, probably in association with vimentin-expressing cells, because invasion of basement membrane extract Matrigel by LM cells gave rise to 100% vimentin-positive cells (sublines LM 22, LM 23 and LM 24). When subcutaneously injected, C5 cells induced tumors limited by an interrupted but well organized basement membrane, whereas LM cells induced tumor masses, occasionally limited by a very irregular basement membrane, as observed when C5 cells were injected with laminin-1. Gelatin zymographic analysis clearly showed an increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 by LM cells. Our results suggest a specific role of laminin-1 on the in vivo proliferation of highly invasive vimentin-expressing colon carcinoma cells. This proliferation may result from the initial interaction of C5 cells with large amounts of laminin-1, leading to a selection of vimentin-expressing cells during the metastatic cascade.

Karyotypic evolution of cells in culture: a new concept

The Chapter summarizes peculiarities of karyotypic variability during establishment and long-term cultivation of permanent cell lines. A new concept on pathways of karyotypic evolution of cells in culture is put forward. A detailed description is presented of the author's original approach of cytogenetic analysis of cell lines provided for a principally new characteristic of the cell line: its generalized reconstructed karyotype (GRK). Its use as a criterion to evaluate authenticity, purity, and stability of cell lines is discussed. Based on analysis of the GRK, two stages of karyotype evolution of cell lines are revealed: establishment and stabilization, different in karyotypic variability of the cell population and in peculiarities of clone selection. Comparison of peculiarities of karyotypic variability of leukemic and tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo was made, and general regularities of their karyotypic evolution have been established, such as nonrandom changes in the number and structure of chromosomes and deletion of one of the sex chromosomes, as well as regularities characteristic only of cells in culture in most human and animal cell lines (at least 85%) of disomy on all autosomes. The rest of the cell lines, 15%, are characterized by either partial or total monosomies on certain autosomes during long-term cultivation. Three main compensatory mechanisms of maintaining viability of cell lines that have lost genetic material are discussed: polyploidization of the initial cell clone, amplification of oncogenes (predominantly of mys family), and extracopying of whole autosomes or of their fragments.

Biology of colorectal and gastric cancer cell lines

Cell lines established from the human colorectal and gastric cancers may provide very useful tools to the study of the disease and to develop and test new therapeutic approaches, and a large bank of well-characterized cell lines should reflect the diversity of tumor phenotypes and provide adequate models for the study of tumor heterogeneity. Colorectal lines are relatively easy to establish, while gastric cancer cell lines remain extremely difficult to propagate in long-term culture, and the number of cell lines is very limited. In this paper, we describe the up-to-date results of the characteristics of our nine colorectal cancer cell lines and four gastric cancer cell lines. Based on culture, xenograft, and ultrastructural morphologies, these cell lines could be subtyped into well-differentiated, moderately differentiated, poorly differentiated, and mucinous carcinomas. Basic properties concerning expression and secretion of antigens, neuroendocrine features, receptor binding of various gastrointestinal hormones and neurotransmitters, cytogenetic studies, gene amplification and expression, and chemosensitivity profiles are described. In particular, a greater number of receptors for hormones and neurotransmitters are expressed on human colorectal cancer cell lines compared to gastric cancer cell lines, raising the possibility that gastrointestinal hormones may have a greater autocrine effect on colon cancer cell growth. Despite major differences in the biology of colorectal cancer and gastric cancer as indicated by clinical studies, the multiple properties that we examined reveals marked similarities between the colorectal and gastric cancer cell lines. However, in vitro chemosensitivity patterns to cytotoxic drugs are very different in colorectal and gastric cell lines. Some of these observations may be due to the relatively low expression of the multidrug-resistance-associated (MDR1) gene in gastric cancer cell lines. In addition, colorectal cancer cell lines express receptors for peptide hormones more frequently.

Chromosome 1 in human colorectal tumors. Cytogenetic research on structural changes and their significance

The significance of short and long arm anomalies of chromosome 1 was investigated in 55 colorectal tumors comprising 41 carcinomas and 14 adenomas. The tumors were at various stages of transformation from adenoma to carcinoma. Our investigation was prompted by the observation of a p32-pter deletion on the short arm of chromosome 1 in a case of benign tubulovillous adenoma with mild dysplasia, as well as by frequent reports that chromosome 1 is involved in many neoplastic processes. Long arm anomalies were found in seven of the 41 carcinomas, six of which were in stage B2, and short arm anomalies in ten carcinomas at various stages. Three of the adenomas exhibited chromosome 1 anomalies, which in one case comprised a 1p32-pter deletion only. Overall, short arm anomalies especially concerned the p32-36 region. These results suggest that the cytogenetic anomalies respectively located on the short and long arms of chromosome 1 should be considered separately. Damage to the long arm might constitute a late non-specific event, whereas damage to the p32-pter region of the short arm might be involved in triggering colorectal tumor development.

Characterisation of a cell line (LCC-18) from a cultured human neuroendocrine-differentiated colonic carcinoma

A cell line (LCC-18) from a neuroendocrine colonic tumour was established. The tumour cells retained their endocrine characteristics through more than 100 passages and showed positive immunocytochemistry for synaptophysin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and glucagon. The culture medium also contained VIP and glucagon, which indicates that mechanisms for release of some of the active peptides were preserved. Transplantation of LCC-18 tumour cells into nude rats resulted in tumour formation with similar endocrine characteristics. The c-myc gene was amplified which might have been a prerequisite for establishment of the cell line. The chromosomes in LCC-18 were studied by G-banding and C-banding. The cell line had a distinctive mode in the hypotriploid region, at S = 61. The double minute (Dms) positive stemline karyotype showed numerical and structural aberrations more similar to findings in ordinary colonic adenocarcinomas than to observations in previously studied, pure intestinal neuroendocrine tumours. The Dms may be correlated with amplification of c-myc. LCC-18 may become valuable for studies of neuroendocrine differentiation, regulation of growth and production and release of hormones and for studies of drug effect.

Chromosome studies in eleven colorectal tumors

Cytogenetic analysis is presented on seven freshly derived colorectal tumors and four established cell lines (SW 742, SW 480, SW 948, and HT 29). No chromosome change was common to all tumors, although previous nonrandom findings were confirmed. Single chromosome abnormalities were identified in two cases, 47,XX,+i(7p) and 46,XX,-17,+der(17),t(17;?)(p;?), and their relevance to tumor origin and development is discussed. The association of i(8q) with tumors of the rectosigmoidal region is confirmed, and it is suggested that other rearrangements involving loss of 8p may have the same association. Abnormalities resulting in loss of 20p and duplication of 20q, not previously reported as a nonrandom change, were seen in seven out of 11 cases.

Clonal derivatives of a human B-lymphoblastoid cell line producing prolactin?A cytogenetic characterization

The IM-9-P cell line is a variant of the human B-lymphoblastoid cell line IM-9 which ectopically secretes prolactin (hPRL). The heterogeneous line IM-9-P and three sublines of clonal origin, two of them positive and one negative for PRL gene expression, were subjected to cytogenetic analysis and compared with the reference line IM-9 which showed a normal female diploid karyotype. G-banding revealed several rearrangements in the chromosomes. Nine altered chromosomes including one stable marker chromosome were common to all analysed karyotypes of IM-9-P cells and their clones. A second marker chromosome 'mar2' occurred only in the karyotypes of the hPRL producing clones, but not in the non-producing clone. None of the visible alterations involve chromosome 6 which carries the PRL gene in humans.

Population analysis of karyotypic heterogeneity of the Raji Burkitt lymphoma cell line. Analysis of 100 karyotypes

A constant lymphoblastoid line Raji (Burkitt lymphoma) has been used as a model for population cytogenetic studies. In analyzing 100 G-banded metaphase plates, four karyotypically distinct clones of cells with 48 chromosomes have been recognized, forming a modal class. In tracing the origin of marker chromosomes (in all 15), the presence of material specific for Burkitt chromosome markers 14q+ and 8q- has been shown. The application of the method of karyotype reconstruction has shown a uniformity in the overall chromosome material of all four groups of cells despite a different set of normal and marker chromosomes. The presence of 40% of cells with unique structural rearrangements (USR) demonstrated, to a significant extent, the structural instability of chromosomes in Raji cells. The nonrandom nature of distribution of "hot spots" along the chromosomes in the process of formation of both markers and USR has been shown. A preferential involvement of chromosomes #6, #7, and #8, as well as of separate regions 1p32, 6q15, 11q13, and 21p13 has been recorded. This report discusses aspects of karyotypic heterogeneity of cell populations in vitro and structural instability of regions of chromosomes #1 and #11, that coincide with the localization of the oncogene L-MYC or sequence BLYM-1 and the oncogene BCL-1.

The seed stock concept and quality control for cell lines

Procedures for the characterization of cell culture lines are reviewed. It is recommended that seed stocks be developed and that major quality-control efforts be applied first to those holdings, with essential tests repeated on cultures from working or distribution stocks prepared subsequently. Steps are taken throughout to ensure absence of microbial contaminants. Mycoplasma are especially troublesome. Investigators need also to be aware of potential endogenous viruses which may be hazardous or interfere with interpretation of results. Cell line species and absolute identities are established by fluorescent antibody staining, by determination of isoenzyme profiles, and by cytogenetic analyses. Additional characterizations will vary with cell type but may include tests for specific products, cytoskeletal proteins, tissue specific antigens, or immunoglobulins. Credentials of lines added to a collection plus representative cultures can be returned to the originators for concurrence before distribution. Advisory committees may be established as circumstance dictates to provide additional expertise regarding quality control for the specific collection being developed.

Small metacentric marker chromosomes, particularly isochromosomes, in cancer

At least two types of small metacentrics, which are isochromosomes for 12p and either 4p or 5p, respectively, are significantly associated with certain types of cancer and their formation may represent important stages in the development of these tumours. The specificity of the i(12p) for testicular cancer is now well established (it may also be present, however, in dysgerminomas and mixed Müllerian tumours of the ovary). This review is therefore mainly concerned with another marker, probably an i(5p) although an i(4p) should also be considered. Recent data suggest that this marker represents a significant chromosomal change occurring with a fairly high frequency in a variety of cancers, including carcinomas of the cervix, ovary, breast, bladder and bronchus (excluding small-cell carcinomas). These isochromosomes may contribute to tumour development through gene amplification; consistent with this is the frequent presence of these markers in two or more copies.

Heterogeneity and balance of chromosomes in human cell line M-HeLa-76: analysis of 100 karyotypes

The cell subline M-HeLa-76 with the modal chromosome number 49 was used to define the level of karyotypic variability. By means of a G-banding technique, 100 metaphase plates were analyzed. Among them, 11 different karyotypes were found to range from 2% to 34%. Most probable evolutionary pathways of cell karyotypes within the cell subline were demonstrated. Determination of the origin of all marker chromosomes (32 in all) and unique structural rearrangements (16) revealed a nonrandom distribution of chromosome breaks. These are primarily centromeric regions of chromosomes 3 and 5. Identification of the overall chromosome material in the cells of each karyotype via karyotype reconstruction showed their close similarity in spite of differences in the sets of normal and marker chromosomes. On the basis of reconstructed karyotypes (RK) of each cell group, a generalized reconstructed karyotype (GRK) of the cell line was obtained. This permitted the conclusion of a balanced chromosome set in a cell population as a whole and obligatory retention of diploidy in all chromosomes of a normal set. The role of variability and selection in the evolution of cell populations in vitro is discussed.

WiDr is a derivative of another colon adenocarcinoma cell line, HT-29

This paper documents chromosomal and isozymic evidence indicating that WiDr is a derivative of another colon adenocarcinoma cell line, HT-29, which was established in 1964. The phenotypes for seven isozymes studied were identical for all HT-29 and WiDr cell lines. The karyotypes were similar between four HT-29 cultures separated by more than 100 passages and two WiDr cultures that were studied independently in 1979 and 1985. The isozymic and karyotypic data are consistent with that described for the cell line WiDr, originally reported in 1979. Detailed karyotypic comparisons further show that cultures of WiDr possess all nine chromosomal markers found in the initial HT-29 (passage 19) cultures. However, both the higher passaged HT-29 and WiDr differ from the initial HT-29 (passage 19) because it has an additional five to eight constitutive marker chromosomes. An increase or decrease of one copy in several normal chromosomes is also noticed with more normal chromosome gains than losses. The study provides another example demonstrating the remarkable karyotypic stability within a heteroploid cell line with continued passage. It also reemphasizes the critical need for detailed karyotypic and isoenzymic studies on all cell lines in common use.

Antigenic heterogeneity and individuality in adenocarcinomas of the rectum and their secondaries

The reaction patterns of eight antibodies directed against blood group substances A, B and H, respectively, against Lewis B antigen, difucosylated carbohydrate antigens (DFCA), gastrointestinal cancer antigen CA 19-9 (GICA), carcinoma-associated antigen CA-50 and CEA, were studied in 68 rectal carcinomas using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method. A pronounced intratumoral antigenic heterogeneity was revealed for most antigens. It thus became evident that an interpretation based upon small preoperative biopsies would be inaccurate. The overall proportion of positive carcinoma cells, however, did not vary much between larger samples taken postoperatively from different regions of the tumours. The intertumoral antigenic variability was also considerable: nearly all tumours had an individual immunohistochemical profile according to the proportions of positive cells. Heterogeneous staining patterns were also present within metastases, and lymph node metastases from the primary tumour in some cases differed completely from each other. The staining pattern did not correlate with Dukes' stage, and degree of differentiation; the expression of any individual antigen, or several antigens in combination.

Cytogenetic analysis in human breast carcinoma. II. Seven cases in the triploid/tetraploid range investigated using direct preparations

This report presents karyotypes of seven breast carcinomas with high ploidy from our total of 111 cases. These karyotypes were highly complex and there was no indication of a specific deletion of 16p12----pter as indicated by the previous analysis of some near-diploid tumors. A comparison of numerical changes did not demonstrate a common loss of chromosome #16 as in the near-diploid tumors, but an equivalent loss of chromosomes #8 and #13 was found.

Cytogenetics of somatic cell hybrids. II. Modal karyotypes and mosaicism in mouse mutant cell lines: LM(tk-), A9, and Rag

Modal karyotypes of mouse mutant cell lines, LM(tk-), A9, and Rag, which are frequently used as a donor line for somatic cell hybridization, are described and compared with karyotypes previously reported by other laboratories. Results are summarized as follows. Many cells (18%-38%) in each line had the same chromosome composition as the modal karyotype. Chromosome differences from the modal karyotype in some cells mainly involved one or a few chromosomes only. These differences are mostly caused by structural changes from well documented mechanisms or simple numerical changes including artifacts arising from the rupture of cells. Karyotypes of coexisting subpopulations within the same cell line can be clearly identified. Assessment of karyologic properties of a heteroploid cell population may vary considerably depending on whether it is estimated on a subpopulation or the total population as a unit. Modal karyotypes of these cell lines contained most marker chromosomes of, and a similar chromosome composition to those previously reported by other laboratories. These cell lines exhibit karyotypic constancy; thus, we believe that chromosome changes associated with clonal growth of somatic cell hybrids can be identified without ambiguity.

Specific chromosome anomalies and predisposition to human breast, renal cell, and colorectal carcinoma

Specific chromosome abnormalities in three human solid tumors of adulthood--renal cell carcinoma, breast tumor, and colon carcinoma--are described. Two of the neoplasms are associated with a reciprocal translocation involving chromosome #3 (breakpoint at band p13-14 with 6, 8, 11, and 16) in renal cell carcinomas and chromosome #1 (breakpoint at band q21 with chromosomes #3, #5, #10, #11, and #12) in breast carcinomas. Most of these chromosomal rearrangements have been seen as tumor-specific acquired changes in tumor cells, as well as some constitutionally present in normal tissues of patients. In a limited number of colorectal carcinoma samples a deletion in the short arm of a chromosome #12 is implicated as a specific abnormality. The expression of fragile sites in these specific chromosomal regions in the normal peripheral blood cultures might identify an individual predisposed to develop a particular type of neoplasm.

Modal karyotype of human leukemia cell line, K562 (ATCC CCL 243)

The chromosome composition of the human leukemic cell line, K562, deposited at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (CCL 243), was studied and further compared with those reported by other laboratories. In CCL 243, the modal karyotype had 55 normal and 14 constitutive marker chromosomes and occurred in nearly 50% of the cultured cell population. Other variant karyotypes were observed either at a low frequency in coexisting minor cell types or only once in all other analyzed metaphases. Normal chromosome #9 and the chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) specific Ph/t(9;22) were absent. It appears that karyotypes of most K562 cultures distributed world-wide are similar to each other, with the stable modal chromosome number, and therefore, the modal karyotype presented here should be useful in karyotypic identification of a cell line.

Marker chromosomes in direct preparations of human large bowel tumors

A survey of 257 marker chromosomes in 48 primary human large bowel adenocarcinomas showed that 44% were markers with recognized patterns. Chromosomes #1, #3, #5, #8, #9, #13, and #17 were involved most frequently. Markers related to chromosomes #7 and X were not seen in any recognizable form. The unidentified chromosomes were classified as markers with abnormal banding regions. In correlating tumor location and stage of invasion with markers, there were fewer markers in tumors from the right side. However, there was little difference in the number of markers seen in the left-sided tumors, irrespective of histopathologic stage, suggesting that function and microenvironmental conditions between various parts of the colon may be related to these differences. The most striking observation is that 21% of all tumors analyzed were without any obvious markers.

Trisomy 7 in a lung carcinoid tumor: precocious index of malignant transformation?

A chromosomal study has been performed on a benign carcinoid tumor of the lung after short-term culture. A trisomy of chromosome #7 was found in all the metaphases. The significance of this finding is discussed in relation to the transformation process.

Expression of the amplified domain in human neuroblastoma cells

Screening of a partial cDNA library prepared from the human neuroblastoma cell line BE(2)-C with genomic DNA probes containing sequences representative of the amplified domain of that cell line allowed us to identify cloned transcripts from an active gene within the domain. The gene BE(2)-C-59 is amplified ca. 150-fold and encodes a 3.0- and a 1.5-kilobase RNA transcript, both of which are overproduced in BE(2)-C cells. A survey of a large variety of human tumor cell types indicated that this gene is amplified to varying degrees in all neuroblastoma cell lines and a retinoblastoma cell line that exhibit obvious cytological manifestations of DNA sequence amplification, i.e., homogeneously staining regions and double-minute chromosomes. The BE(2)-C-59 gene is not amplified, however, in other nonrelated tumor types, even those containing amplified DNA. Although the functional significance of this specific gene amplification in neuroblastoma cells remains unknown, an indication that it may relate to the malignant phenotype of these cells follows from the remainder of our data which show that the amplified BE(2)-C-59 gene shares partial homology with both the second and third exons, but not the first exon, of the human c-myc oncogene.

Expression of the amplified domain in human neuroblastoma cells

Screening of a partial cDNA library prepared from the human neuroblastoma cell line BE(2)-C with genomic DNA probes containing sequences representative of the amplified domain of that cell line allowed us to identify cloned transcripts from an active gene within the domain. The gene BE(2)-C-59 is amplified ca. 150-fold and encodes a 3.0- and a 1.5-kilobase RNA transcript, both of which are overproduced in BE(2)-C cells. A survey of a large variety of human tumor cell types indicated that this gene is amplified to varying degrees in all neuroblastoma cell lines and a retinoblastoma cell line that exhibit obvious cytological manifestations of DNA sequence amplification, i.e., homogeneously staining regions and double-minute chromosomes. The BE(2)-C-59 gene is not amplified, however, in other nonrelated tumor types, even those containing amplified DNA. Although the functional significance of this specific gene amplification in neuroblastoma cells remains unknown, an indication that it may relate to the malignant phenotype of these cells follows from the remainder of our data which show that the amplified BE(2)-C-59 gene shares partial homology with both the second and third exons, but not the first exon, of the human c-myc oncogene.

Cytogenetic study of patients with carcinoma of the colon and rectum: particular C-band variants as possible markers for cancer proneness

A possible involvement of chromosomal heterochromatic polymorphisms in propensity to cancer has been considered and discussed by several investigators who studied groups of patients presenting with different forms of malignancy. We report a cytogenetic study on the circulating lymphocytes of patients suffering from colorectal carcinoma, most of whom were of European origin. Significantly increased incidence of polymorphisms of chromosomes #1 and #9 was found, especially partial inversions (PI). Emphasis is given to the problem of selecting adequate controls, which must be as homogeneous as possible.

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

A human colon carcinoma cell line was established from a metastatic lymph node of a patient with hereditary adenomatosis of the colon and rectum (ACR). Cells of this line, designated KMS-4, have been continuously propagated in culture during the past 24 months. The cells growing on the surface of culture dishes showed epithelial features, and, when inoculated into athymic nude mice, produced adenocarcinomas with a morphology similar to that of the original tumor. Electron micrographs showed that the cultured cells have desmosomes and numerous surface microvilli typical of colon epithelium. Chromosomal analysis revealed the cell line to be of human origin with a diploid mode of chromosome number, but the karyotypes examined were all abnormal. Most of the metaphases commonly had such abnormalities as 7p+, 12p+, +13, +16 and 17p+, accompanied by loss of chromosome No. 19 and/or 20, and, interestingly, all the metaphases contained 7p+ and +13. The cells had a log phase doubling time of 48 to 72 h. The cloning efficiency of the cells was 0.06% in the soft agar medium. Neither 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate nor bile acids enhanced cell proliferation. The cells abundantly secreted CEA protein into the culture medium (700 ng/ml/106 cells during a 48 h period). The present colon carcinoma cell line derived from a genetically defined individual with ACR should prove useful for research in human oncology or genetics.

Intercellular karyotypic similarity in near-diploid cell lines of human tumor origins

Intercellular karyotypic compositions were studied in seven near-diploid cultured cell populations (including six cell lines) of human colorectal and fibrosarcoma origins. Within each population, 50-88% of cells had the same cell-line-specific karyotype. In five of these seven populations, coexisting minor cell types could readily be identified, implicating the frequent occurrence of mosaicism in transformed cell lines. Nearly 90% of these cell types showed a single chromosome loss or gain from the modal cell karyotype. Parameters that may assist in the evaluation of karyotypic diversity of a transformed cell line are discussed briefly.

Specific DNA sequence amplification in human neuroblastoma cells

Southern blot analysis of a number of EcoRI-digested human neuroblastoma DNAs has revealed the presence of a family of discrete restriction fragments, the majority of which are amplified in most, but not all, of the neuroblastoma cell lines tested. None of these sequences is abundantly present in DNA from other human tumors of different tissue origins, including several either known or presumed to contain amplified DNA. Hence, these sequences appear to be specifically amplified by neuroblastoma cells. Hybridization with metaphase chromosomes in situ has localized these sequences to either the homogeneously staining regions or double-minute chromosomes of different neuroblastoma cell lines, indicating that these chromosomal structures, although present in cell lines established from different patients, share many sequences and may have a common, but as yet unknown, function.

Characterization of human colon carcinoma cell lines isolated from a single primary tumour

The initiation of a cultured human colon carcinoma line on a feeder layer of confluent fibroblasts is described. Attempts to initiate cultures without fibroblast feeder layers were not successful. Two sub-lines (designated HCT C and HCT C Col) were isolated and weaned from cells growing on the surface of the feeder layer. The sub-lines had different morphologies, secreted different levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) into the medium of confluent cultures and had slightly different karyotypes. Both sub-lines grew in semi-solid medium and formed xenografts when injected s.c. into athymic nude mice. Analysis of radioiodinated cell membrane components indicated small, but significant differences between the sub-lines.