Establishment and characterization of a human large cell lung cancer cell line with neuroendocrine differentiation

Characterization of a human lung cancer cell line is reported. This cell line was established from a patient referred to Nemazi Hospital of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences with a diagnosis of poorly differentiated carcinoma. Sterile sample from peritoneal effusion was taken and immediately cultured in RPMI-1640 medium containing 20% FBS, at 37 degrees C with 5% CO2. This cell line has been in continuous culture for more than one year and has been named as Mehr-80. Several features of the cell line were investigated, including growth characteristics, electron microscopic features, cloning efficiency in soft agar, expression of various antigenic markers, chromosomal and DNA analysis. On the basis of morphological and immunohistochemical analysis of Mehr-80, it is possible to conclude that this cell line is characterized by features similar to those reported for large cell carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation (LCCND). This cell line will be a valuable in vitro tool for further studies on lung cancers.