Karyotypic analysis and chromosome polymorphisms in four choriocarcinoma cell lines.

Four choriocarcinoma cell lines were karyotyped and examined for genetic homozygosity or heterozygosity using chromosomal polymorphisms. The BeWo, Jar, and ElFa lines had modal chromosomes in the hypertriploid range, while the DoSmi line was hypotetraploid. A number of chromosomal rearrangements were seen in all lines but there was no common rearrangement. The BeWo and Jar cell lines, derived from tumors following term births, were shown to be heterozygous by the presence of both X and Y chromosomes. The ElFa and DoSmi lines, established following molar pregnancies, were shown to be heterozygous; the ElFa line by the presence of both X and Y chromosomes and the DoSmi line by the examination of Q-band polymorphisms. Thus, all four lines, whatever their origin, were shown to be genetically heterozygous.