Studies on the relationship between chromosome No15 and the biological characteristics of malignant transformed Syrian hamster fibroblast cell lines.

During the course of malignant transformation of mammalian cells in vitro, a regular variation in chromosome number and structure is usually found. In order to elucidate the relationship between chromosomal changes and malignant expression, we isolated five clones from a malignant transformed Syrian hamster fibroblast cell line and analysed their biological characteristics, as well as chromosomal changes. A positive correlation between chromosome No 15 monosomy and the transformed and malignant phenotype was observed. We suggest that a suppression gene may be located on chromosome No 15, and its deletion or the loss of the chromosome may result in expression of the malignant phenotype.