In vitro models of human colorectal cancer

Epithelial cell lines that differentiate in vitro have been isolated from hereditary and sporadic colorectal adenomas representing different stages in tumour progression, from small adenomas with a low malignant potential to large adenomas with a relatively high malignant potential. The majority of cell cultures derived from small adenomas senesced, whereas the larger adenomas were more likely to give rise to an immortal cell line. Karyotypic analysis has shown that specific abnormalities of chromosomes 1, 6, 7, 13, 14, 17, 18 and 22 occur in these adenoma cell lines. Abnormalities of chromosome 1 have been implicated in tumour progression and the in vitro immortalization of colorectal adenomas. Molecular and cellular changes involving abnormalities of chromosomes 1 and 18, TP53 and ras gene mutations and reduced response to the growth inhibitory effects of TGFB and sodium butyrate, which occur during tumour progression, suggest that the in vitro model has relevance to in vivo carcinogenesis.