Description of a human papillary thyroid carcinoma cell line. Morphologic study and expression of tumoral markers

Background. The establishment of cell lines from thyroid carcinomas can provide an in vitro model of oncogenesis. B-CPAP is a new cell line that has been obtained from a differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma. The data presented give a broader characterization and expression of tumoral markers of this cell line and identify the differentiated functions that are preserved. Methods. An ultrastructural study was performed to confirm the thyroid nature of the new cell line. The cellular markers (thyroglobulin, S100, neuron-specific enolase [NSE]) and the oncogenes (mutated p53, H-ras, c-myc, PTC, trk) were studied by immunohistochemistry, Southern blot, or in situ hybridization. Results. The cells were of a differentiated ultrastructural thyroid type. All of the cells proved immunoreactive with antibodies specific to thyroglobulin, S100 proteins, NSE, and mutant p53 protein. Mutations of H-ras, PTC, and trk were not observed. The c-myc gene was not amplified. Conclusions. The cell line described in these data provides a suitable model for the study of thyroid carcinogenesis, given that the cells present thyroid characteristics, and metabolic disorders not previously found in such cell lines. In addition, the coexpression of S100 proteins and mutant p53 proteins in the cells should permit the study of the interaction between these two proteins.