Qualitative and quantitative assay for cells lacking postconfluence inhibition of cell division: characterization of this phenotype in carcinogen-treated Syrian hamster embryo cells in culture

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Cancer Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6701689

Nakano, S; Bruce, S A; Ueo, H; Ts'o, P O

We have developed a qualitative and quantitative assay system for detecting cells lacking postconfluence inhibition of cell division (contact insensitivity, CS-) in golden Syrian hamster embryo cells in culture by measuring the number of cells able to form colonies on a lethally irradiated, confluent monolayer of a contact-sensitive established cell line. A subpopulation in normal low-passage cultures of golden Syrian hamster embryo cells temporarily exhibits this CS- phenotype at very low frequency (approximately 4 x 10(-3)) but quickly loses the property within a few passages in vitro. This phenotype is invariably exhibited by various tumorigenic cell lines at very high frequency (7 to 50 x 10(-2)) and appears to correlate with the anchorage-independent growth phenotype. The temporal acquisition of the CS- phenotype by tertiary-passage golden Syrian hamster embryo cells following exposure to N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine was examined. Cells with a stably heritable CS- phenotype are detected after approximately 20 posttreatment population doublings. In contrast, anchorage-independent cells are not detected until 35 to 95 posttreatment population doublings. These CS- cells appear to be preneoplastic cells, since clonally isolated CS- cells did not exhibit anchorage-independent growth until further passaging in vitro. The results suggest that acquisition of the CS- phenotype represents an early stage in neoplastic progression.

• Research Organization: Division of Biophysics, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
• OSTI ID: 6701689
• Journal Information: Cancer Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Cancer Res.; (United States) Vol. 42:8; ISSN CNREA
• 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
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBONIC ACID DERIVATIVES
CARCINOGENESIS
CELL CULTURES
CELL DIVISION
CELL PROLIFERATION
DISEASES
EMBRYONIC CELLS
GUANIDINES
IRRADIATION
LETHAL IRRADIATION
NEOPLASMS
NITROSO COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
PATHOLOGY
PHENOTYPE
TUMOR CELLS