Genetic analysis of amylase-producing cell lines: ectopic activation of the amylase gene by translocation.

Two amylase-producing cell lines have been established, KMK-2 from a patient with gastric cancer, and KHM-1B from a patient with IgA lambda-type multiple myeloma. Both patients exhibited extremely high levels of serum amylase. The production of S-type amylase m-RNA by KMK-2 and KHM-1B was demonstrated by Northern blot analysis. Chromosome analysis showed many qualitative and quantitative abnormalities in both cell lines. In KHM-1B, a translocation was found between 1p13 or 21, near the amylase genes locus, and 9q34, the abl oncogene locus. These findings suggest the amylase gene in KHM-1B to be activated by translocation. A rearranged amylase gene was demonstrated by Southern blot analysis with only one enzyme, Accl.