Flow cytometric DNA analysis of lung cancer cell lines

Tumor DNA content (ploidy) was analyzed by use of flow cytometry (FCM) in 17 lung cancer cell lines which were subcultured in our laboratory. The study included 6 adenocarcinomas, 2 squamous cell carcinomas, 1 adenosquamous cell carcinoma, 5 large cell carcinomas, and 3 small cell carcinomas. Of the 17 lung carcinoma cell lines, 15 revealed aneuploid patterns with DNA index above 1.1, whereas one had diploid. The mean DNA index (DI) in adenocarcinoma, was 1.34 +/- 0.09, DI 1.6, in squamous cell carcinoma, DI 1.0 in adenosquamous cell carcinoma, DI 1.70 +/- 0.66 in large cell carcinoma, and DI 1.29 in small cell carcinoma. Of the 17 cell lines, three lines showed multiploid patterns with clinically poor prognosis and indicated heterogeneity. Flow cytometric DNA analysis using lung cancer cell lines could provide further basic study of lung cancer cells and give a useful information on the degree of the malignancy clinically.