Characterization of a renal cell carcinoma cell line suitable as a target for immunological studies in vitro and in the nu/nu mouse.

A continuous human renal carcinoma cell line designated RPMI-SE was established from a patient with a poorly to moderately differentiated renal cell carcinoma. The cells are anchorage dependent, have a well defined globular shape with pseudopod-like structures, a doubling time in vitro of 24 hr. and are able to grow subcutaneously in female ICR Swiss nu/nu mice. RPMI-SE cells obtained from tissue culture and the nude mouse had the chromosome number of near-tetraploidy. Common morphologic rearrangements were present in both the cell line and nu/nu mouse tumor. RPMI-SE was evaluated as a target cell line in an in vitro Indium-111 release assay. Three patterns of cytotoxicity were observed at an effector to target cell ratio of 100:1. The highest degree of cytotoxicity (75 per cent) was obtained with autologous lymphocytes. An intermediate level of cytotoxicity (50 per cent) was obtained with allogeneic lymphocytes. The lowest level of cytotoxicity (27 per cent) was obtained with normal lymphocytes and was comparable to the level of cytotoxicity observed with the NK sensitive K562 target cell line. Morphologic data and chromosomal analysis indicate that the RPMI-SE cell line has maintained characteristics of the original tumor. This cell line will be useful for immunological studies as a target cell line in vitro as well as in vivo in the nude mouse.