Long-term growth of malignant thymocytes in vitro

Blood. 1989 Jun;73(8):2182-7.

Abstract

We report a new methodology for the long-term growth of malignant T-lymphoblasts from patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LL). When malignant cells were cultured in the presence of insulin-like growth factor I under hypoxic conditions, cellular proliferation occurred that resulted in the establishment of immortal cell lines from ten of 12 patient tumors. Authenticity of each cell line was verified by a direct comparison of the immunophenotype, karyotype, and immunogenotype with the patient's tumor cells. This improved method of cell culture permits frequent establishment of cell lines from patients with T-ALL/T-LL, thereby aiding in analysis of thymocyte transformation and neoplasia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / analysis
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Cell Division* / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase / analysis
  • Gene Rearrangement
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / pharmacology
  • Karyotyping
  • Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / genetics
  • Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / immunology
  • Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / pathology*
  • Male
  • Phenotype
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / enzymology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / immunology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / pathology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase