STUDIES OF CYTOFLUOROMETRIC DNA DETERMINATION AND CHEMOSENSITIVITY OF KN-41 RENAL CANCER CELLS IN EXPONENTIAL AND PLATEAU PHASES

Abstract

A KN-41 cell line established from a human renal cell carcinoma was used for this study. The KN-41 cells cultivated in exponential and plateau phases were studied in terms of DNA histogram and chemosensitivity to 8 anticancer drugs, using static cytofluorometry and a colony formation method, respectively. DNA analysis was also performed in KN-41 cell tumors heterotransplanted in nude mice and in surgical specimens from 18 renal cancer patients. The percentages of cells in G_1/0 fraction and of S fraction in the plateau phase cultures were more similar to those of the cells from the KN-41 cell tumors and surgical specimens than those in the exponential phase cultures. Two hour-exposure time was used for bleomycin (BLM), adriamycin (ADM), carbazilquinone (CQ), mitomycin C (MMC), cis-platinum (CDDP) and ACNU, and 24 hour-exposure time for vinblastin (VBL) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). BLM, ADM, CQ, VBL and 5-FU exhibited a lower lethal effect on the plateau phase cells than on the exponential phase cells. MMC, CDDP and ACNU showed almost the same effect on cells in both phases. None of the anticancer drugs exerted a dominant cell killing effect on the plateau phase cells. Chemosensitivity tests using plateau phase cells may be useful for selection of more effective drugs for clinical use.