CLONING OF A HUMAN CANCER CELL-LINE (NSCLC-N6) AND COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THE CLONES IN-VITRO

Non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is a particulatiyly serious dise ase because of its chemoresistance to current treatments. To investiga te the nature of his generally innate resistance we cloned an establis hed cell line (NSCLC-N6) derived from a non-small cell bronchopulmonar y carcinoma. Four cell subpopulations (C15, C65, C92 and C98) were iso lated from the mother line. These four clones were studied in comparis on with each other for cell doubling time in vitro, ploidy, chemosensi tivity in vitro, cytogenetic, expression of the oncogene erb-B2 and ot her tumor markers (Kr, CFA and Chr A). Each clone shows a distinct bio logic pattern for various biological parameters. Our results indicated hat cell doubling time (in vitro) increased when the hyperploid popul ation was prevailing. The clones differ in their chemosensitivity to t herapeutic agents. This cellular diversity might help ro explain why t hese tumors are chemoresistant. This heterogeneity within NSCLC tumors should be taken into consideration in the choice of treatment.