Characterization of two new cell lines derived from oral cavity human squamous cell carcinomas--OC1 and OC2.

Two continuous cell lines, OC1 and OC2, have been established. Each one was derived from a surgical specimen of buccal mucosa squamous carcinoma from a Chinese man. Both cell lines grew as adherent monolayers and had an epithelioid morphology. The cell lines have now been grown in vitro for more than 200 passages over a 2-year period. Both cell lines were tumorigenic in nude mice. Histologic examination of the mice tumors showed a positive identification with those from the original human squamous cell carcinoma. Electron microscopic examination convincingly demonstrated their epithelial origin. Chromosomal numbers of the OC1 cell ranged from 58 to 78 and of the OC2 cells ranged from 62 to 82. Analysis of cytokeratin showed that all cell lines were positive. The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) tested negative in these two cell lines. The OC2 cell line showed the presence of HPV16, but the OC1 cell line did not. These cell lines should be useful for investigation of anticancer treatment and for their possible relationship to human papilloma virus (HPV).