CYTOKINE PRODUCTION BY A NEW UNDIFFERENTIATED HUMAN THYROID-CARCINOMACELL-LINE, FB-1

A human anaplastic thyroid cancer cell line FB-1, derived from a 68-yr -old Roman who underwent surgery for anaplastic thyroid cancer, has be en established. The spindlelike cells have been proliferating stably f or more than 2 yr. Karyotype analysis shows many abnormalities and man y marker chromosomes have been observed. Heterotransplant of FB-1 cell s into severe combined immunodeficient mice has resulted in rapidly gr owing tumors classified as anaplastic carcinomas, although 50% have sh own areas with a trabecular pattern. FB-1 cells failed to express mess enger RNA for thyroglobulin; TSH-receptor; thyroperoxidase, and placen tal angiogenic growth factor. Conversely, PAX8 and thyroid transcripti on factor 1, whose expression is thyroid specific, was kept in an FB-1 cell line at a level comparable with that observed in normal thyroid tissue. In addition, the present cell line expressed high levels of me ssenger RNA for high-mobility group proteins (Y) and -C. The in vitro study revealed that FB-1 cells are able to produce high levels of inte rleukin (IL)-8 and medium amount of IL-6, whereas no release of IL-1-a lpha, IL-1-beta, and IL-4 was observed. No modulation of cell prolifer ation and DNA synthesis in FB-1 cells has been observed after the addi tion of exogenous IL-6.