Identification by C-banding of two human prostate tumour cell lines, 1013L and DU 145

Two human prostate carcinoma cell lines are easily distinguished by C-banding. DU 145 has one metacentric chromosome with a large centromeric band, 1 metacentric and 2 acrocentric chromosomes with interstitial C-bands. The Y chromosome was present in 48% and 42% of the cells at passages 83 and 106, respectively, whereas in 1013L only one metacentric chromosome contained distinct extra C bands--one at the centromere and one interstitially. The Y chromosome was present in 72% of the cells at passage 15 and in 20% at passage 22, but by passage 44 it had disappeared. Karyotype analysis using G-banding revealed that DU 145 had retained several of its original markers, and demonstrated multiple marker chromosomes in 1013L.