Genotypic and phenotypic changes in the derivative clones from cancer-stromal fusion.

Abstract

<p>Genotypic and phenotypic parameters of the first 9 clones of the RL-1 and HPS-15 fusion hybrids were compared to those of the first 12 clones from control cloning. Compared to RL-1 clones, all the derivative clones lost Y chromosomes (<b>A</b> versus <b>B</b>). Detected by Western blotting, some of the derivative clones showed persistent AR expression even under androgen-deprivaton (<b>C</b> versus <b>D</b>). In these studies, cells were cultured for 48 hours in regular culture medium (C), androgen deprivation medium (−), and androgen deprivation medium containing 5 nM R1881 (+). The derivative clones were detected to express increased levels of PSA, even during androgen-deprivation (<b>E</b> versus <b>F</b>). When growth rate was assayed by MTT conversion, clones derived from cancer-stromal fusion displayed accelerated growth in androgen-independent fashion (<b>G</b> versus <b>H</b>). Data represent the mean of triplicate assays. For all the data points, standard deviation was less than 5% of the mean and is not shown.</p