Biological studies of ten human squamous carcinoma cell lines: an overview.

Ten cell lines established from surgical specimens of human squamous carcinomas of the tongue and larynx have been investigated with respect to their motility, ultrastructure, karyotypes, certain biochemical features, interaction with normal epithelial and stromal elements and capacity to infiltrate three-dimensional organoid systems. All the cell lines have maintained several morphological and biochemical characteristics indicating a common origin, although the extent to which each line displays this heritage is variable. The phenotypes of each of the individual cell lines are, however, notably stable.

Interactions between normal epithelial and squamous carcinoma cells in monolayer culture.

Confrontations of rings of adult human oral mucosa epithelial cells enclosing islands of similar normal epithelium, fibroblasts, and cells of three established lines of human squamous carcinoma in monolayer culture were investigated by phase and reflection microscopy and by time lapse cinematography. Measurements of the dimensions of the rings and islands of cells revealed that, while normal epithelial rings confronted with normal epithelium or fibroblasts migrated continuously inwards, similar rings confronting islands of the carcinomas retreated progressively outwards from the tumor islands. The persistence of substantial cell-free space between the epithelium and tumor cells indicated that the outwards migration of the epithelial rings was not solely due to proliferation of the tumor cells.

Five human tumour cell lines derived from a primary squamous carcinoma of the tongue, two subsequent local recurrences and two nodal metastases.

Five tumour cell lines have been derived from a primary squamous carcinoma of the tongue, from 2 subsequent local recurrences, and from 2 lymph-node metastases--all from the same patient. While the cell lines shared many morphological and biochemical characteristics, those derived from recurrences and metastases appeared to be less differentiated, were less well organized in culture, and displayed fewer desmosomes and tonofilaments than cells in the primary tumour line. A recurrent line showing greatest morphological divergence from the primary tumour line also demonstrated the greatest differences at the ultrastructural level, in increased production of plasminogen activator and in the composition of cell-surface glycoproteins.

Ten human carcinoma cell lines derived from squamous carcinomas of the head and neck.

Ten cell lines of human squamous carcinomas of the tongue and larynx have been established from surgical specimens removed from 36 unselected patients, in order to provide systems for investigating the invasive and tissue-destructive capacity of squamous carcinomas of the head and neck. The morphology, ultrastructure and growth characteristics of the 10 lines are described. Detailed cytogenetic analysis of the first 4 lines indicates that each is karyotypically unique, with no evidence of cross-contamination.