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Two cell lines, RW-2982 and RW-7213, have been established for the first time from the mucinous variant of human colorectal carcinoma, which is a distinctive and important subtype that has a worse prognosis than the more common nonmucogenic large bowel carcinoma. Methods of establishment and observations made during 7 and 3 years, respectively, of continuous culture are described. These cell lines required 4-9 months of adaptation to tissue culture conditions before noticeable growth occurred. Both cell lines have the following unique properties: (a) growth in vitro as delicate branching three-dimensional tumor particles within a wide gel of insoluble, often translucent mucus (proteoglycan); (b) production of large quantities of carcinoembryonic antigen; (c) ability to survive or adapt to growth in media free of serum, hormones, growth factors, and all protein; and (d) tumorigenicity in multiple sites in nude mice, including liver, with especially rapid growth in the peritoneal cavity as gelatinous material that is nonadherent and noninvasive and thus resembles pseudomyxoma peritonei. Unlike other reported colorectal cell lines, these mucus-coated particulate cell lines will not readily grow as monolayers and grow much more slowly with a doubling time of 2 weeks or more. A serially transplantable tumor from the RW-7213 surgical specimen has also been maintained in nude mice since August 8, 1984. This tumor retains properties of the original specimen. Observations made on the tumor biology of mucogenic colorectal carcinoma using these cell lines are discussed.

A cell line was established from a portion of a 25-cm stromal sarcoma of the left breast of a 65-year-old woman. The clinical course was rapid with tumor recurrence on the chest wall less than 1 month after mastectomy. Other cutaneous and abdominal metastases occurred shortly thereafter, and death followed within 3 months despite chemotherapy. The cultured cells, designated RW-972, produced large amounts of acid mucopolysaccharides (hyaluronic acid) and mimicked the aggressive growth characteristics seen in the patient. After injection into nude mice, the tumor grew rapidly and occasionally produced metastases. This unique cell line, RW-972, presumably derived from the stromal component of a human malignant cystosarcoma phyllodes, might be useful in studies of experimental therapy of this rare tumor type and of lobular stromal cells of breast. It may also be used to investigate hyaluronic acid production by tumor cells.