Population density as a factor in the evolution of neoplastic cell lines.

The influence of population density in the progression from the nonneoplastic to the neoplastic state has been reassessed. Two twice-cloned, nonneoplastic mouse lines, NCTC 7914 and 7915, were transferred each 3 to 4 days at inoculum sizes selected to minimize or maximize cell-cell contact, 1 X 10(5) or 4 X 10(5) cells/T-15, respectively. As tested by in vivo assay, the regime designed to minimize cell-cell contact did not reproducibly delay transformation, and tumor production was observed in all lines, irrespective of inoculum size. Also, results of tumorigenesis assays correlated with blind evaluation of morphological and cytological alterations, growth in agarose, and susceptibility to killing by activated macrophages. Generally higher saturation densities were seen as a function of period in culture, and no significant differences in glucose utilization or lactic acid production were observed between nonneoplastic and neoplastic cell populations.