CHARACTERIZATION OF ALVA-41 CELLS, A NEW HUMAN PROSTATIC-CANCER CELL-LINE

The ALVA-II cell line was derived from a bony metastasis from a human prostatic carcinoma. The line has a number of distinct, advantageous p roperties that should make it useful as a tool for the study of prosta te cancer. It grows rapidly and is easy to work with. It has receptors for androgens and glucocorticoids but not for estrogens. Its growth i s enhanced by physiological concentrations of dihydrotestosterone. It does not secrete prostate specific antigen, but does secrete prostatic acid phosphatase. Further, the secretion of prostatic acid phosphatas e is enhanced by dihydrotestosterone.