DNA METHYLATION LEVELS IN HUMAN AND MURINE MELANOMA CELL-LINES OF VARYING METASTATIC POTENTIAL

  • 1 September 1986
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 46  (9) , 4342-4345
Abstract
DNA methylation levels were measured in a series of murine and human melanoma cell lines consisting of matched variants of low and high experimental metastatic capacity. The percentage of cytosine residues modified to 5-methylcytosine ranged between 2.13-3.92% in these lines. Ten cell lines were estabished in culture from individual lung tumor nodules prouced in nude mice by i.v. injection of DX-3 human melanoma cells. Upon reinjection into groups of nude mice the individual lines manifested marked diversity for lung nodule formation (median number of pulmonary tumor nodules ranging from < 10/group-> 100/group). DNA methylation levels in these lines were also heterogeneous (range 1.59 .+-. 0.13 (SD)-4.04 .+-. 0.15%) but no correlation was detected between methylation status of the genomic DNA and metastatic capacity.