FLOW CYTOMETRIC DNA ANALYSIS OF LUNG-CANCER CELL-LINES

Tumor DNA content (ploidy) was analyzed by use of flow cytometry (FCM) in 17 lung cancer cell lines which were subcultured in our laboratory . The study included 6 adenocarcinoma. s, 2 squamous cell carcinomas, 1 adenosquamous cell carcinoma, 5 large cell carcinomas, and 3 small c ell carcinomas. Of the 17 lung carcinoma cell lines, 15 revealed aneup loid patterns with DNA index above 1.1, whereas one had diploid. The m ean DNA index (DI) in adenocarcinoma, was 1.34 +/- 0.09, DI 1.6, in sq uamous cell carcinoma, DI 1.0 in adenosquamous cell carcinoma, DI 1.70 +/- 0.66 in large cell carcinoma, and DI 1.29 in small cell carcinoma . Of the 17 cell lines, three lines showed multiploid patterns with cl inically poor prognosis and indicated heterogeneity. Flow cytometric D NA analysis using lung cancer cell lines could provide further basic s tudy of lung cancer cells and give a useful information on the degree of the malignancy clinically.