Continuous cell lines derived from head and neck tumors for mechanistic studies in vitro and in a nude mouse animal model

In a series of experiments we established and characterized continuous cell lines of different squamous cell carcinomas. The isolated cells grew in epithelial clusters and expressed cytokeratin. Their differentiation pattern and capacity differ to a certain extent. Using these in vitro systems we studied the effects of different chemotherapeutic drugs (e.g., MTX, 5-FU, CBDCA and Taxol). Injection of HN SCC-001 cells into nude mice gave rise to serially transplantable subcutaneous tumors. The cell line as well as the xenotransplants showed the phenotype and genotype characteristics of the primary tumor.