CHARACTERIZATION OF 2 NEWLY ESTABLISHED CELL-LINES DERIVED FROM SQUAMOUS-CELL-CARCINOMAS OF THE ESOPHAGUS

This study describes characteristics of two newly established cell lin es (OSC-1 and OSC-2), derived from two oesophageal squamous cell carci nomas. Morphologically, OSC-1 cells and OSC-2 cells grew in epithelial cobblestone patterns with cells piling up to 4 cells. Ultrastructural ly, both cell lines showed formation of desmosomes; however, tonofilam ents were only formed by OSC-2 cells. Immunohistochemical investigatio ns revealed coexpression of vimentin and cytokeratin in OSC-1 cells an d OSC-2 cells. A cytokeratin subtype typical for mature squamous epith elia (cytokeratin 13) was expressed only in OSC-2 cells. OSC-1 cells s howed tumour formation in nude mice, whereas OSC-2 cells did not. Cyto genetic analysis revealed that OSC-1 cells and a hyperdiploid karyotyp e and OSC-2 cells had a near-triploid karyotype. In both cell lines, t he formation of multicellular spheroids could be induced. In conclusio n, in comparison with OSC-2 cells the OSC-1 cells were characterized b y a poorer degree of differentiation and by a more aggressive growth b ehaviour in vivo.