An adenoid squamous carcinoma-forming cell line established from an oral keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma expressing carcinoembryonic antigen.

A neoplastic epithelial cell line, TYS, was isolated from a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma expressing carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) that arose in human oral mucosa. Expressions of CEA and amylase as well as ample tonofilaments were detected in cultured TYS cells. Transplantation of the cells into athymic nude mice resulted in production of adenoid squamous cell carcinoma containing CEA and amylase. Cultivation of TYS cells in the presence of sodium butyrate resulted in suppression of cell growth and production of secretory granules with amylase in the cytoplasm of the cells. When the sodium butyrate-treated cells were transplanted into nude mice, a small mass developed transiently at the inoculation site and then disappeared. This mass was histopathologically interpreted as acinic cell carcinoma with squamoid lesion. These findings suggest that we have established a human adenoid squamous carcinoma cell line presumably derived from a minor salivary gland present in oral mucosa.