Establishment and characterization of human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines

Objectives: Six human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (SNU-46, -585, -899, -1066, -1076, -1214) established from Korean patients are reported. Study Design: In vitro culture of six squamous cell carcinoma cell lines derived from primary tumors of the larynx. Description of the cell line phenotypes and determination of molecular characteristics. Methods: Six laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines were cultured. The cell phenotypes, including the histopathology of the primary tumors and in vitro growth characteristics, were determined. Molecular characterization was also performed, including DNA fingerprinting analysis and abnormalities of p15, p16, p53, and TGF-beta RII genes by polymerase chain reaction-based single strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing analysis. Results: All cell lines grew as adherent cells; five lines grew as monolayers and one other line grew as stratifying colonies. All lines showed 1) high viability (75%-92%) with various doubling times (36-96 h); 2) absence of Mycoplasma and other bacteria; and 3) genetic heterogeneity by DNA profile analysis. p53 Mutations were found in three lines and p16 mutations were observed in five cell lines. TGF-beta RII mutations were found in two lines: one line had frameshift mutation and another line had a missense mutation at the kinase domain, Conclusions: These newly established and characterized laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines will be useful for investigating the biologic characteristics of laryngeal cancer.