Establishment and characterization of a poorly differentiated lethal human endometrial carcinoma cell line (NOU-1) with karyotype 46,XX.

Immortal gynecologic cell lines, especially those of endometrial origin are diverse with multiple chromosomal alterations, making the study of origin and molecular genetic characteristics of such neoplasms difficult, if not impossible. We have established a new epithelial, poorly differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line (NOU-1) with a 46,XX chromosome complement. To confirm the tumor characteristics, we injected this cell line subcutaneously into the nude mouse. The tumor grown in vivo had the identical histology and the same 46,XX chromosome complement as the original tumor excised from the patient. The cells from the original tumor and those in the nude mouse shared the same characteristics with respect to histopathology, immunohistochemistry, steroid hormone receptor content, and growth characteristics. We report on the only established cell line of a highly aggressive, poorly differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma with 46,XX chromosome complement where both estrogen and progesterone receptors are absent.