Cytogenetic responses of human uroepithelial cell lines and a malignant bladder carcinoma cell line to X-rays

The responses to X-rays of three simian virus 40 (SV40) immortalized but non-tumourigenic human bladder epithelial cell lines have been compared with a malignant bladder epithelial line using the micronucleus assay. A linear increase in induced micronuclei (MN) was observed for all four cell lines with increasing X-ray dose. The three SV40 immortalized lines were found to be significantly less sensitive than the malignant cell line. Spontaneous levels of MN indicate that certain cell lines within the SV40 immortalized lines have a higher genetic instability. These cell lines may have a predisposition towards the generation of a fully transformed phenotype when treated with carcinogenic agents.