Human teratocarcinoma cell lines. A review

A review is given of studies on human teratocarcinoma cell lines in culture. A human ovarian teratocarcinoma line (PA-1) has been characterized in detail (Zeuthen et al. 1980) and has been shown to exhibit some properties of human teratocarcinoma stem-cells. This line forms embryoid bodies with a distinct outer cell layer analogous to endodermal cells formed by some mouse teratocarcinoma cell lines, and also is capable of a certain limited differentiation in culture as well as upon transplantation to nude mice. A panel of human testicular teratocarcinoma cell lines has been studied by Andrews et al. (1980): While these cells also share some embryonic characteristics, their differentiation in culture is more limited. Studies of various markers suggest that these lines are equivalent to a pre-blastocyst stage derivation. The PA-1 cell line and possibly two other testicular teratocarcinoma lines could possibly be derived at a stage equivalent to a later stage of development.