Evidence for the progressive nature of neoplastic transformation in vitro. [Hamster embryo cells; benzopyrene]

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.75.8.3761· OSTI ID:6629316

Barrett, J C; Ts'o, P O.P.

The temporal acquisition of in vitro phenotypes associated with neoplasia was examined after exposure of Syrian hamster embryo cells to a chemical carcinogen. Quantitative assays measuring morphological changes, enhanced fibrinolytic activity, and anchorage independent growth were used to detect the development of transformed cells within a population of normal hamster embryo cells. Morphological transformation and enhanced fibrinolytic activity were early changes observed after treatment with benzo(a)pyrene, whereas the ability to grow in semisolid agar was delayed 32 to 75 population doublings after carcinogen exposure. This delay was not due to selection of a small number of cells that were present early after treatment but at a level below detection, because a large percentage of the cells isolated at early passage (10/sup 3/-fold above the level of detection) developed the potential for anchorage independent growth at later passages. This development of the anchorage independent growth phenotype was induced by the carcinogen treatment, because spontaneous transformation was rare. These observations suggest that multiple cellular changes are required for the acquisition of the capacity for anchorage independent growth and that neoplastic transformation in vitro is a progressive process through qualitatively different stages. Thus, an analogy can be drawn to the progressive nature of in vivo carcinogenesis. These results strongly justify the study of oncogenesis in cell culture as a model for neoplastic transformation in vivo.

• Research Organization: Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore
• OSTI ID: 6629316
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) Vol. 75:8; ISSN PNASA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560301* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Cells-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BENZOPYRENE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
CARCINOGENESIS
CARCINOGENS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
EMBRYONIC CELLS
HAMSTERS
HYDROCARBONS
IN VITRO
MAMMALS
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
PHENOTYPE
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES