Cytochalasin B-induced multinucleation of human tumor and normal cell cultures

Twelve human cell cultures derived from tumors, normal tissues, and derivative cultures transformed by either a RNA tumor virus or chemical carcinogen were examined for their response to cytochalasin B (CB) and the expression of this marker was correlated with growth in soft agar and saturation density in monolayer culture. Cell lines derived from carcinoma of the bladder (T24 and RT4), kidney (Caki-1), prostate (DU 145), and breast (MCF-7) multinucleated when growth in CB-supplemented medium, whereas cell cultures derived from benign bladder epithelium (HCV-29), and normal kidney (Flow 4000) and skin (GM10) remained binucleate under comparable conditions. Human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells transformed by murine sarcoma virus (MSV) or a chemical carcinogen extensively multinucleated in response to CB treatment, relative to a morphological revertant of MSV-transformed HOS and parental HOS cells. CB-induced multinucleation was consistently correlated with the ability of cells to form colonies in soft agar but inconsistently correlated with growth to high saturation densities. These results demonstrate a differential response to CB by normal and transformed human cells and that CB-induced multinucleation provides a convenient and useful in vitro marker for neoplastic transformation.