[Establishment of a human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line with high metastatic potential (MHCC97) and its biological characteristics].
OBJECTIVE
To establish and characterize a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line with high metastatic potential derived from a subcutaneous xenograft of metastatic human HCC in nude mice (LCI-D20).


METHODS
Single-cell suspension collected by tearing tumor tissues with forceps was transferred to the tissue culture flasks for culture in vitro in medium DMEM supplemented with 10% human group AB serum. Cytogenetic studies were performed on this cell line using flow cytometry and chromosome G-banding. AFP of theprimary xenografts and lung metastatic lesions was detected by using ABC immunohistochemistry. The rates of its tumorigenicity and metastasis in nude mice were evaluated.


RESULTS
The MHCC97 cells showed typical epithelial appearance. Upon subcutaneous or intrahepatic inoculation in nude mice, the xenograft grew and metastasized to the lungs. The metastatic rate was 100%. The cancer cells of lung metastatic foci were AFP positive. Aberrant chromosomes i(1)(q) and der(4) (pter-->q35::?) were its chromosome markers.


CONCLUSIONS
The MHCC97 cell line maintained the biologic characteristics as its original xenografts. The presence of the reported chromosomal aberrations may be related to carcinogenesis and progression of HCC.
Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Medical University.
J
J
Tian
Z
Z
Tang
S
S
Ye
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins