Cytogenetic studies on an epithelial cell line derived from poorly differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma

An epithelial cell line, CNE-2, has been recently established from a poorly differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and it represents the first of its kind. Using chromosome banding techniques, cytogenetic analysis of the cell line was carried out. It was demonstrated that the chromosome numbers of the CNE-2 cells varied from 87 to 107 and the modal number was 104-103. All cells contained a series of structurally abnormal chromosomes, and most of them were either consistent or frequently found. Among these chromosomes there were two giant markers which, by banding pattern analysis, proved to be distinct from the so-called giant group A marker chromosomes previously found in many lymphoblastoid cell lines from NPC. Comparison between the CNE-2 and CNE, another epithelial cell line, which was established from well-differentiated squamous NPC, showed that while they were quite different in many cytogenetic aspects, they had three marker chromosomes in common, namely, an iso8q, a t(?;3q) and a small acrocentric one. The question of whether chromosome markers specific for NPC exist is discussed in the light of the data presented.