GROWTH-FACTOR INDEPENDENCE OF A NEW DIFFERENTIATED HEPATITIS-B VIRUS DNA-NEGATIVE HUMAN HEPATOMA-CELL LINE

The establishment of a new, differentiated, hepatitis B virus DNA‐negative, human hepatoma cell line (named PLC/AN/2) is described. Neoplastic liver tissue was obtained during hepatectomy in an HBsAg‐negative man. The established cell line is negative for α‐fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen; it has retained in vitro some of the differentiated functions of normal hepatocytes. Additionally, it presents a distinctive rearrangement (translocation) at the long arm of chromosome 4. The high degree of independence from serum growth factor requirements appears to be a major in vitro characteristic of PLC/AN/2 cells, making them a suitable model system for the more precise definition of the human hepatocellular carcinoma phenotype, including mechanisms of growth control.(HEPATOLOGY 1990;11:1024‐1032.). Copyright © 1990 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases