Carcinogenesis in tissue culture. 29: Neoplastic transformation of a normal human diploid cell strain, WI-38, with Co-60 gamma rays.

WI-38 normal human diploid fibroblasts were exposed to Co-60 gamma rays 4 times at a total dose of 1400 rads and transformed into neoplastic cells in culture. The transformed WI-38 cells which are growing steadily without showing aging phenomena at the present time showed epithelial-like morphology, abnormal karyology, B-type isoenzyme pattern of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), and produced sarcomas when transplanted into cheek pouches of hamsters treated with anti-hamster thymocyte serum.