In vitro traits of adenovirus-transformed cell lines and their relevance to tumorigenicity in nude mice.

Six independently isolated adenovirus 2-transformed rat cell lines and one adenovirus 5-transformed human cell line have been examined in vitro for serum growth requirements, saturation density, anchorage-independent growth, proteolytic enzyme activity and the presence of LETS glycoprotein and T antigen. This series of adenovirus-transformed cell lines exhibits an oncogeni spectrum ranging from being tumorigenic in immunocompetent rats through to nontumorigenic in adult nude mice. The relevance of the in vitro findings to growth potential in vivo is discussed.