Cytogenetic Analysis of Twelve Human Malignant Melanoma Cell Lines

Abstract

Characteristics and cytogenetic markers of 12 human malignant melanoma cell lines derived from 5 patients were studied. All cell lines derived from different individuals were identifiable by their chromosome markers. Common chromosome markers were evident when multiple cell lines were derived from a single biopsy specimen or two different lesions of one patient, which indicated an in vivo origin of the abnormal chromosomes. None of the marker chromosomes were common to all 12 cell lines. Abnormalities of chromosomes #1, 3, 7, 9, and 11 were the most frequent, and abnormalities of chromosomes #1 were observed in at least one cell line from each patient. Markers common to all of the cell lines from one patient were identifiable for months or years and appeared to be stable. Five of the six lines established from males lost the Y-chromosomes.