Establishment and characterization of human neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroblastoma cell lines.

The establishment in culture and characterization of 4 human neuroblastoma (NB) cell lines and 1 human ganglioneuroblastoma cell line are described. Each cell line fulfilled at least 2 of 4 criteria for malignant or transformed cells: viz., subcultured more than 70 times, high saturation density with absence of contact inhibition, population-doubling time within a range of 10-40 h, and tumour formation in nu/nu mice. Each cell line also fulfilled at least 2 of 3 criteria for neuroblastoma cells: viz., humoral and cell-mediated immune reactivity toward NB-associated cell-surface antigen, intracellular storage and extra-cellular secretion of catecholamines, and characteristic neuroblast and ganglion-cell morphology.