Establishment of a new cell line, OKT1, from small cell carcinoma secreting ectopic ACTH of the uterine cervix

Objective. Small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is rare and represent s a unique entity among gynecological tumors. It sometimes demonstrates neu roendocrine differentiation, including adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) secretion . In this study, we established a new cell line, OKT1, from a case of carci noma secreting ectopic ACTH without Gushing's syndrome and determined the c haracter of the cell line. Methods. OKT1 was established from OKT tumor cells, derived from a biopsy s pecimen of small cell cervical carcinoma, and serially heterotransplanted i nto nude mice. To characterize OKT1, the cell morphology, growth properties , immunohistochemical properties, hormone- and tumor-associated antigen sec retion, tumorigenic potential, DNA profile, and chromosomal alteration were studied. Results. The population doubling time of OKT1 was approximately 27 h. The c ytological properties of OKT1, including DNA ploidy pattern, were similar t o those of the primary tumor. Neuroendocrine differentiation was shown in t he OKT1 cells by the positive immunocytochemical staining of neuron-specifi c enolase (NSE) and the presence of NSE and ACTH in the culture media. The xenograft of 1 x 10(8) OKT1 cells into nude mice yielded tumor mass. Furthe rmore, OKT1 demonstrated HPV type 18 and absence of a p53 gene mutation fro m exons 5 through 8. Conclusion. To our knowledge, OKT1 is the first cell line established from small cell cervical carcinoma with ACTH secretion, (C) 1998 Academic Press.