[Biological characterization including sensitivity to mitomycin C of cultured human ovarian cancers (author's transl)].

The present study first dealt with characterization of two cell lines, Kuramochi and CKS, established from human ovarian cancer. Secondary, the quantitative analyses of sensitivity of the cell lines to Mitomycin C was reported. The two cell lines showed typically epithelial features in vitro. Kuramochi cells, derived from undifferentiated carcinoma, had microvilli on the cell surface, cell continuity with the relative developed junctional complex, but no secretary granules and vesicles. The chromosomal analysis revealed the hyperdiploid modal number of 50. The population doubling time was about 26 hours. CKS cells, derived from serous cystadenocarcinoma, had secretary vesicles, microvilli, but no developed junctional complex. The chromosomal analysis reveals the hypodiploid modal number of 37. The population doubling time was about 34 hours. Biochemical markers of alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin and carcinoembryonic antigen were not detected in both cell lines. 90% lethal dose of 2-hr-treatment with Mitomycin C was 0.42 microgram/ml in Kuramochi cell line and 1.13 microgram/ml in CKS cell line. These values were higher than the one of the control cell line, KATO-III, derived from signet-ring cell carcinoma of stomach. Ovarian cancers were suggested resistant to Mitomycin C.