Spontaneous keratinocyte cell lines representing early and advanced stages of malignant transformation of the epidermis

A unique series of epidermal cell lines representing different stages of malignant transformation were spontaneously derived from a single adult immunosuppressed individual. Four keratinocyte lines (PM1-4) established from forehead skin are here compared with 4 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) lines (MET1-4) derived respectively from a primary cutaneous tumour, two local recurrences and a distant metastasis of invasive SCC. Despite altered growth properties, the PM lines retained many features of normal keratinocytes including keratin phenotype, differentiation capacity and non-tumorigenicity in athymic mice. In contrast, from early passage, the MET lines displayed markedly reduced growth requirements, abnormal differentiation, aberrant K18 expression and tumorigenicity in athymic mice. The abnormal keratin profile of individual MET lines closely reflected the keratin phenotype of the tumour of origin. Although unusual HPV types were identified in the original tissue, there was no evidence of persistent virus within any cell line and it appears that HPV is not critical for maintenance of the immortal phenotype. The PM lines were distinctly different from invasive SCC lines and are likely to be useful for studies of mutations important early in neoplastic progression. The SCC series represent primary, recurrent and metastatic carcinoma. Availability of such a series from the same individual will facilitate genetic analysis of the malignant process.