Biogenic amine metabolites in human lung tumor cells: histochemical and mass-spectrographic demonstration

Three continuous cell lines isolated from small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL) have been examined for their ability to take up and metabolize the biogenic amine precursors, L-DOPA and 5-hydroxytryptophane (5-HTP). In two of the three lines formaldehyde-induced fluorescence (FIF) and mass-spectrographic analysis indicated specific uptake and metabolism of L-DOPA and 5-HTP.