Cytofluorometric purification of diploid and tetraploid cancer cells.

During malignant transformation, cells can increase their ploidy and hence become polyploid (mostly tetraploid). Frequently, however, tetraploid cells undergo asymmetric divisions, in turn entailing a reduction in ploidy and the acquisition of a pseudo-diploid, aneuploid state. To investigate such a stepwise aneuploidization process, we developed a cytofluorometric method (based on the heterogeneity in cell size and/or chromatin content) that allows for the cloning and subsequent functional analysis of cells with distinct ploidies. Here, we detail this methodology, which has been instrumental for investigating the functional link between ploidy status and oncogenesis.