Establishment and characterization of a human neuroblastoma cell line derived from a brain metastatic lesion

We encountered a case of abdominal primary stage IV neuroblastoma which recurred in the central nervous system. A neuroblastoma cell line, designated KP-N-NS, was established from this brain metastatic lesion. This is considered to be the first neuroblastoma cell line established from a brain metastatic lesion. In culture, KP-N-NS exhibited N(neuroblastic) type cell morphology with neurite-like processes and small cell bodies. This cell line revealed karyotypic abnormality, 46, XX, -1, +der (1)t(1;?)(p36.1;?), and twelve-fold amplification of MYCN DNA (twice as much in primary bone marrow tumor cells). Integrin study indicated high expression levels of alpha 1 beta 1 and alpha 4 beta 1, but alpha 2 beta 1, alpha 3 beta 1, alpha 5 beta 1, alpha 6 beta 1, alpha 6 beta 4, and alpha v beta 3 were barely detectable by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. Compared with 8 other previously established N-type neuroblastoma cell lines, no significantly characteristic integrin expression was detected in this cell line. KP-N-NS will provide a useful tool for the study of metastasis and relapse in the central nervous system in neuroblastoma patients.