Karyotypic evolution of a human undifferentiated large cell carcinoma of the lung in tissue culture.
Serial cytogenetic studies were performed on a cell line derived from a pleural effusion from a patient with undifferentiated large cell carcinoma of the lung. The initial sample had a broad range of chromosome numbers per cell, with a hypodiploid/pseudodiploid stem line and a hypotetraploid sideline. A sequence consisting of a doubling of chromosome number per cell followed by chromosome loss was observed repeatedly during 40 culture passages. The presence of metaphase spreads showing evidence of endoreduplication suggested this as a likely mechanism for the doubling of chromosome number per cell. Eleven marker chromosomes were observed in the cells of the primary sample; these markers persisted through all subsequent passages. Chromosomes 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 11, and 16 were consistently overrepresented; each of these chromosomes was involved in marker formation. Chromosomes 4, 5, 9, 10, 19, 21, and 22 were consistently underrepresented. Every chromosome, either in its normal form and/or as part of a marker, was represented on the average by at least one copy per diploid cell. Eighteen new marker chromosomes were observed during the course of cell cultivation; one of these evolved into a clonal marker over the course of six cell passages. Of the new marker chromosomes that were formed during the observation period, the majority were found in hypotetraploid cells.
Burholt
D R
DR
Cancer Cell Biology and Genetics Laboratory, Allegheny-Singer Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212.
Shackney
S E
SE
Ketterer
D M
DM
Pollice
A A
AA
Smith
C A
CA
Brown
K A
KA
Giles
H R
HR
Schepart
B S
BS
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D002877:Chromosomes, Human; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008677:Metaphase; D011003:Ploidies; D014178:Translocation, Genetic