Human melanoma cell lines: morphology, growth, and alpha-mannosidase characteristics.

Four human melanoma cell lines were characterized by evaluation of the morphology, ultrastructure, cytogenetics, plating efficiency, agar colony formation and alpha-mannosidase values. Biochemical studies demonstrate that all studied lines produced alpha-mannosidase even under condition of long-term in vitro growth. All respective lines were characterized by a great variations in biological markers studied and very few reliable comparisons could be obtained as regards the proliferation activity and capacity, cellular composition and clonogenic potential as well. Due to cellular selections during long-term in vitro cultivation, the range for using these experimental systems as models for the study of biology of human malignant melanoma seems to be rather limited.