Quantitative description of classic and variant small cell lung cancer cell lines by nuclear image cytometry.

Six small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines were examined using nuclear image analysis to find features characteristic of the classic and the variant type of SCLC. On the basis of their biochemical and biological properties three of these cell lines have been shown to represent the classic types, and three represent the variant type of SCLC. Using a combination of the image-derived run length, density, and geometric features, it was possible to distinguish between the classic and variant SCLC cell lines. The results of this study may be of help in assessing photometric features for the separation of the classic and variant subtypes of SCLC in solid tumors. Because of differences in treatment and prognosis between these two subtypes, such a separation may be of clinical value.