Lung tumour cell lines synthesizing peptide hormones established from tumours of four histological types: characterization of the cell lines and analysis of their peptide hormone production.

Thirty permanent and more than 60 primary tumour cell lines were established from pleural and pericardial exudates or wedge biopsies from human bronchial carcinoma. The permanent cell lines have their origin in 6 small cell, 5 large cell, 9 squamous and 5 adeno carcinomas of the lung. Tumour cells were purified from non tumour cells by direct cloning in fluid cultures or by soft agar cloning. In vitro secretion of ACTH, bombesin, calcitonin, and neurotensin was demonstrated for lung tumour cells belonging to the four major histological types. Cell suspensions of peptide hormone secreting permanent cell cultures were grown to solid tumours after xenotransplantation into nude mice. Comparative ultrastructural examination of the primary tumour and of cells grown in tissue culture and in xenografts demonstrated the preservation of most tumour type specific structural criteria in the ex vivo/in vitro systems. The present data show that not only tumour cells from small cell carcinoma but also from other histological types are capable of synthesizing a broad spectrum of immunoreactive peptide hormones. This result might be interpreted as indicating a common expression of hormone biosynthesis and secretion by all lung tumours.