[Establishment and characterization of phenotypically distinct cell lines from a single chromophilic renal cell...

Two phenotypically different permanent cell lines (A and B) were established from a single human chromophilic renal cell carcinoma. The cells of cell line A were large and spindle-shaped, exhibiting a mean doubling time of 32 hours and a saturation density of 85,000 cells/sqcm. The cells of cell line B were smaller and polygonal, exhibiting a mean doubling time of 19 hours and a saturation density of 370,000 cells/sqcm. Cell line A proved to be non-tumorigenic after heterotransplantation into nude mice, whereas cell line B produced rapidly growing carcinomas. These transplant tumors were non-metastatic after subcutaneous implantation, but highly metastatic after renal implantation indicating that the biological behaviour of malignant tumors may be affected by the host tissue.