Lack of correlation among gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity, production of alpha-fetoprotein, and transplantability in rat liver epithelial-like cell cultures.

The expression of two markers of fetal liver, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), and the relationship between these markers and tumorigenicity were studied in 17 continuous epithelial-like cell lines derived from normal rat livers and ascitic hepatoma cells. Fourteen cell lines positive for GGT activity included 6 non-transplantable lines. Out of 10 cell lines transplantable to syngeneic rats and/or immuno-depressed hamsters, 2 showed no activity of GGT cytochemically. AFP production was seen in the culture fluid of 4 out of 15 cell lines tested. They consisted of 1 GGT-positive, transplantable, 1 GGT-negative, transplantable, and 2 GGT-positive, non-transplantable cell lines. These results indicate that no correlation exists among these 3 parameters related to neoplastic and preneoplastic states of cells.