Burkitt Tumor: Tissue Culture, Cytogenetic and Virus Studies

Abstract

Tumor cells that retained their original histology were grown from a biopsy taken from a 7-year-ofd male with a Burkitt tumor. The cells grew in suspension, usually in clumps varying from a few to hundreds of cells in a free-floating mass. This cell line was designated SL₁. A herpes-like virus, which caused some cell degeneration of the tumor cells in culture, was observed by electron microscopy. Supernatant fluids from the SL₁ cultures failed to produce a cytopathogenic effect in inoculated cell lines. A specific chromosome alteration was observed in the cells from the original tumor and in the cultured tumor cells.