Establishment and characterization of a human ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma cell line that produces the tumor markers CA-125 and tissue polypeptide antigen.

A cultured cell line (SHIN-3) derived from a human ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma which consistently produces two tumor markers, CA-125 and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) was established. After 1 week of culture of 1 x 10(5) cells, high levels of tumor marker were observed (the total CA-125 release was 1,500 U and the total TPA release was 37.5 U). Expression of CA-125 and TPA was also demonstrated in cultured cells immunohistochemically. The volume of CA-125 release per cell was highest just before the start of the logarithmic growth phase. TPA production was increased in the logarithmic growth phase, but its relationship to the total number of cells was not clear.