In vitro viral transformation of human prostatic carcinoma

Cell cultures derived from fetal human and prostatic adenocarcinoma were inoculated with SV40 virus. Within 6 weeks in vitro morphologic transformation occurred, after which the cells proliferated rapidly. They exhibited the SV40 T-antigen by immunofluorescence and survived propagation beyond the limited lifespan of uninfected cultures. We suggest that this may be a useful technique in establishing stable cell lines of human prostate.