Chromosome analysis of human neuroblastoma cell line TR14 showing double minutes and an aberration involving chromosome 1.

The chromosomal analysis of a human neuroblastoma cell line derived from a pediatric patient is presented. The cell line has a modal chromosome number of 64 and contains large numbers of double minutes (DMs). The DMs are stable over many passages in vitro. A consistent feature of the karyotype is an abnormality involving the short arm of chromosome 1, which is consistent with previous reports from human neuroblastomas. The region distal to band 1p31 has homogeneously staining characteristics and as such this cell line represents a rare example where DMs and HSRs are constitutive features of the same cells. The possibility that such regions could arise from chromosome rearrangements is discussed.