ESTABLISHMENT OF A HUMAN ANAPLASTIC THYROID-CANCER CELL-LINE SECRETING GRANULOCYTE-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR IN RESPONSE TO CYTOKINES

A human anaplastic thyroid cancer cell fine K-119, derived from a 77-y r-old woman who had developed marked neutrophilia and underwent surger y for anaplastic thyroid cancer, has been established. The spindlelike and polygonal cells in shape are stably proliferating since the begin ning of its culture 2 yr ago. The cells grow rapidly and the populatio n doubling time is 26 h. The chromosomes show many abnormalities and m any marker chromosomes have been observed. Heterotransplantation of th e cells into nude mice has resulted in the formation of tumors that ar e histologically interpreted as anaplastic cancer. The most noteworthy characteristics of the cell line are the many Ki-67-positive cells (8 6.3%) and that the cell fine spontaneously secretes granulocyte colony -stimulating factor (G-CSF) and releases increased amounts of G-CSF in response to the stimulation of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1al pha, and interleukin 1beta. The conditioned medium obtained from K-119 cells contains an autocrine factor stimulating the proliferation of t hemselves.