[Characterization of cell lines from metastatic maxillary cancer]

Two cell lines were established one from a primary site (OKK-TKp) and the other from a metastatic lymph node (OKK-TKm), from a maxillary squamous cell carcinoma (in the same patient). These cell lines were characterized with regard to morphology, chromosome numbers, tumorigenicity, growth kinetics, expression of tumor markers, sensitivity to immunological effector cells and anticancer agents. The two cell lines had the same modal chromosome number of 69, and formed tumors in nude mice. The median doubling time of OKK-TKp was 14.6 hrs and that of OKK-TKm was 24.3 hrs. Immunohistochemistry showed transferrin receptor (TfR), Ki-67, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in OKK-TKm, but less or none in OKK-TKp. OKK-TKm was more sensitive to lysis by lymphokine-activated killer cells (LAK) on a 4-h 51Cr release assay, but was less sensitive to anticancer agents (CDDP, CBDCA) in modified MTT assay. We are convinced that these results are of value for understanding the mechanism of metastasis.