Chromosome pattern, growth in agar and tumorigenicity in nude mice of four human bladder carcinoma cell lines.

Four human bladder carcinoma cell lines have been characterized by G-banding, and the chromosomal patterns correlated to growth in agar and tumorigenicity in nude mice. Each cell line was shown to be chromosomally unique and although numerical and structural anomalies were present, none were common to all four cell lines. However, one or more copies of a structurally altered chromosome 8 were present in all four cell lines and may be associated with tumorigenicity in nude mice. A combination of three marker chromosomes was found in the more anaplastic cell lines, but not in the two well-differentiated tumour cell lines. Growth in agar may be associated with the presence of the three marker chromosomes but was not correlated with tumorigenicity in nude mice.