Growth in Continuous Culture, and in Hamsters, of Cells From a Neoplasm Associated With Acanthosis Nigricans

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Abstract
A continuous culture cell line (AN3CA) was established from a uterine neoplasm associated with the clinical syndrome of malignant acanthosis nigricans. The cells proliferated rapidly in vitro from the beginning of isolation, without entering a static or decline phase prior to continuous growth. They showed a tendency to attach poorly to glass, and often exhibited a marked “bubbling” activity (zeiosis) of the cytoplasm during interphase. The characteristics of the bubbling cytoplasm are described as seen in fixed preparations with the light microscope, in time-lapse, phase-contrast cinematography, and with the electron microscope. The activity resembled that occurring in anaphase and telophase of mitosis, in Rous virus-infected cells in culture, and in cells under a variety of other special conditions. It did not signify impending death. Tumors histologically similar to the original neoplasm grew in cheek pouches of cortisone-treated hamsters inoculated with AN3CA culture cells. These tumors were serially transplanted in 13 hamsters, representing 5 serial passages. Tumor-bearing hamsters did not show skin changes suggestive of acanthosis nigricans. Tests for production of melanocyte-stimulating hormone by culture cells were also negative. It is concluded that, if neoplasms associated with acanthosis nigricans produce a substance inducing the skin lesions, the methods used did not provide the conditions necessary to demonstrate such a substance.

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