| Abstract |
A medullary thyroid cancer cell line, MZ-CRC-1,. was established in tissue
culture originating from a malignant pleural effusion of a 43 year old
white female with metastatic disease. Congo red stains of the tumor of
origin showed amyloid in the matrix. Tumor cells were homogeneously
positive for chromogranin, neuron specific enolase (NSE), calcitonin and
cytokeratins. In tissue culture, MZ-CRC-1 grows in small plastic adherent
clusters of spindle shaped tumor cells with a cell doubling time of 12-16
days. MZ-CRC-1 cells form progressive solid tumors when transplanted to
nude mice. In electron microscopy neurosecretory granules of 70-170nm
diameter are detectable. This corresponds to a positive Grimelius stain of
argyrophilic granules in some but not all tumor cells. By
immunofluorescence microscopy, cytokeratin filaments are detectable both
in cultured MZ-CRC-1 cells and in nude mouse tumors in a fibrillar
arrangement. Neurofilaments are seen in a globular arrangement in cultured
cells. Two dimensional gel electrophoresis of cytoskeletal preparations of
tumors revealed the presence of cytokeratin polypeptides nos. 7, 8, and 18.
The neuroendocrine marker MOC-1 was positive along the cell membranes.
MZ-CRC-1 cells express the disialoganglioside GD3 at the cell surface, a
marker for tissues of neuroectodermal origin. In paraffin sections NSE and
calcitonin antibodies gave a diffuse positive staining of tumor cells. In
tissue culture supernatants CEA and high levels of calcitonin were
detectable. Monoclonal antibodies Leu-7 and NKH1A defining NK cells were
strongly positive with MZ-CRC-1. This is the second known human medullary
thyroid cancer cell line established in tissue culture.
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