Characterization of a newly established cell line derived from human adrenocortical carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
ACT-1, a new cell line of human adrenocortical carcinoma, has been established and successfully maintained in culture. This study examined the biological characteristics of the cells.


METHODS
The tumor cells were isolated from a surgical specimen of the tumor thrombus and cultured in monolayer.


RESULTS
Histologically, the primary tumor was composed of a solid proliferation of large polygonal cells. A part of the atrophic adrenal cortex remained at the periphery of the tumor. The cultured ACT-1 cells were spindle-shaped in morphology and grew exponentially with an approximate population doubling time of 24 h. A chromosomal analysis revealed a modal number of 61 with consistent structural abnormalities of add(3)(q11), add(9)(p11), and add(16)(ql1). The expression of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was observed in the ACT-1 cells as well as in normal human adrenal glands.


CONCLUSIONS
The ACT-1 cell line provides a reproducible model system which gives good insight into the oncogenesis of adrenocortical carcinoma.
Ueno
M
M
Department of Urology, Kidney Disease Center, Saitama Medical School, Iruma, Japan. camtmune@saitama-med.ac.jp
Nakashima
J
J
Akita
M
M
Ban
S I
SI
Nakanoma
T
T
Iida
M
M
Deguchi
N
N
D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D018268:Adrenocortical Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured