AN IMMORTALIZED CELL-CULTURE FROM A MALIGNANT MIXED TUMOR OF THE LACRIMAL GLAND

Tumor cells from a malignant mixed tumor of the lacrimal gland were ma intained in tissue culture for more than 55 generations. Comparative i mmunohistochemical analysis was performed on whole tumor sections and on the tumor cell culture to define the origin of the cells in culture . The cultured cells expressed cytokeratin, smooth-muscle actin, S-100 protein, and vimentin and were negative for glial fibrillary acidic p rotein. Tumor sections expressed cytokeratin but were negative for mus cle-specific actin, vimentin, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Thr ough tissue culture studies of salivary gland epithelial neoplasias, w hich are very similar to lacrimal gland epithelial neoplasias, pluripo tential stem cells have been identified. Similar tissue culture analys is of lacrimal gland epithelial neoplasms can be a valuable tool for s tudying the origin of these uncommon tumors.