ESTABLISHMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HUMAN NEUROBLASTOMA CELL LINES

Abstract

Three new tissue culture cell lines, CHP-100, CHP-126 and CHP-134, were established from explant cultures of human neuroblastoma. The cell lines were characterized with respect to morphology, chromosome constitution, growth, neural enzyme content and their ability to grow in nude mice. The cells grow as dense masses comprised of fibroblast- or neuroblast-like cells with small processes. The cell lines differ in their neural enzyme activity. The chromosomal content of the 3 cell lines is near diploid, and all are capable of forming tumors in nude mice. The morphological findings indicate that the cells in culture resemble those found in the tumor, and the enzyme activities are consistent with those of nervous tissue. The morphological, biochemical and tumorigenic properties confirm that the 3 cell lines are neoplastic cells of neural origin.