Studies on the relationship between chromosome No15 and the biological characteristics of malignant transformed Syrian hamster fibroblast cell lines.

Abstract

During the course of malignant transformation of mammalian cells in vitro, a regular variation in chromosome number and structure is usually found. In order to elucidate the relationship between chromosomal changes and malignant expression, we isolated five clones from a malignant transformed Syrian hamster fibroblast cell line and analysed their biological characteristics, as well as chromosomal changes. A positive correlation between chromosome No 15 monosomy and the transformed and malignant phenotype was observed. We suggest that a suppression gene may be located on chromosome No 15, and its deletion or the loss of the chromosome may result in expression of the malignant phenotype.