Differential properties among clones of simian virus 40-transformed human epithelial cells

Monolayer cultures of human prostatic epithelial cells were exposed to SV40 virus at 35th population doubling. Clones were isolated from infected plates after growth had ceased on the control plates. The nuclei of these clones were virtually all positive for viral T-antigen by immunofluorescence. When the properties of three of these lines were compared to those of normal cells, they were found to have altered morphology, ultrastructure, chromosomes, and growth behavior. All transformed lines had reduced serum dependence and were capable of growing in soft agar. However, their reduced serum dependence was not due to reduced growth factor requirements because each subline's response to growth factors was different.