Establishment and characterization of HUOT, a human ovarian malignant teratoma cell line producing alpha-fetoprotein.

A cell line designated HUOT was established from a recurrent tumor of human ovarian malignant teratoma. The cell line grew slowly and stably and serial passages were performed 50 times within 35 months. The cells, polygonal or spindle, with neoplastic and pleomorphic features grew in multiple layers and without contact inhibition. Population doubling time was 98 hours and the plating efficiency was less than 6%. The chromosome number varied from 43 to over 256, and the modal number was stable at the hyperdiploid range (52-56). The cultured cells produced anaplastic carcinomas by heterotransplantation into the subcutis of nude mice and were characterized as producing large amounts of alpha-fetoprotein, in vitro, at the stationary growth phase and as forming cystlike structures. Dibutyl cAMP suppressed the cellular proliferation and increased the production of alpha-fetoprotein. Therefore, this HUOT line is expected to have a wide application for various laboratory studies.