2 NEW HUMAN NEUROBLASTOMA CELL-LINES EXHIBITING TUMORIGENESIS AND METASTASIS IN THE NUDE-MOUSE MODEL

Background: Human neuroblastoma cell lines are notoriously difficult t o establish in culture and use in murine hosts. Materials and methods: Two new human neuroblastoma cell lines, NK and ND, were established a nd studied for growth patterns in nude mice, growth in soft agar, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis (Hoechst- merocyanine 540 test), metallopro teinase expression (zymograms), and morphological differentiation by d ibutyryl cyclic AMP (dCAMP). Results: Both cell lines formed tumors in 6/9 nude mice within 5-31 days after subcutaneous inoculation and met astases after intravenous tail vein injection. Both grew in soft agar. DCAMP induced morphologic differentiation in both, and inhibited cell culture growth without apoptosis. Zymograms of supernatants from cult ures revealed 72-kDa metalloproteinase and higher molecular bands that did not change with dCAMP treatment Cultures derived fr om murine met astatic foci exhibited 72, 82 and 85-kDa proteins, with strong 92-kDa bands after dCAMP treatment. Conclusion: New human neuroblastoma cell lines were established that are easily used in nude mice, and express metalloproteinases.