Genetic Profiling Reveals Cross-Contamination and Misidentification of 6 Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Cell Lines: ACC2, ACC3, ACCM,ACCNS, ACCS and CAC2

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is the second most common malignant neoplasm of the salivary glands. Most patients survive more than 5 years after surgery and postoperative radiation therapy. The 10 year survival rate, however, drops to 40%, due to locoregional recurrences and distant metastases. Improving long-term survival in ACC requires the development of more effective systemic therapies based on a better understanding of the biologic behavior of ACC. Much preclinical research in this field involves the use of cultured cells and, to date, several ACC cell lines have been established. Authentication of these cell lines, however, has not been reported. We performed DNA fingerprint analysis on six ACC cell lines using short tandem repeat (STR) examinations and found that all six cell lines had been contaminated with other cells. ACC2, ACC3, and ACCM were determined to be cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells), whereas the ACCS cell line was composed of T24 urinary bladder cancer cells. ACCNS and CAC2 cells were contaminated with cells derived from non-human mammalian species: the cells labeled ACCNS were mouse cells and the CAC2 cells were rat cells. These observations suggest that future studies using ACC cell lines should include cell line authentication to avoid the use of contaminated or non-human cells.     

Presentation of two patients with malignant granulosa cell tumors, with a review of the literature

ABSTRACT: Granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) of the ovary account for 2 to 5 of ovarian malignancies. We present two patients with malignant ovarian adult GCT. In one patient, a combination of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin was effective after initial surgery for malignant GCT. In the other, an aromatase inhibitor was effective for recurrent malignant GCT. We also review the literature for further management of this tumor. Because GCT of the ovary is rare, it will be necessary to elucidate the clinical phenotype and establish treatment protocols by accumulating and analyzing more patients.     

Factors controlling hypolimnetic ammonia accumulation in a lake

The factors controlling the degree of hypolimnetic ammonia accumulation in Lake Onogawa are discussed based on periodic observations since 1993. The standing stock of ammonia in the bottom 9 m of the water column was a good measurement for determining the extent of the hypolimnetic ammonia accumulation. It varied threefold from 144 mmol m⁻² in 1998 to 429 mmol m⁻² in 1996. The correlation between the annual maxima of the ammonia standing stocks and the annual maxima of the thickness of anoxic layers was significant at P = 0.01. This fact suggests that the degree of development of the anoxic layer is the primary factor controlling the extent of hypolimnetic ammonia accumulation. Sporadic local heavy rainfalls in 1998 perturbed the water column, and the formation of the anoxic layer was postponed more than one month, resulting in a lower level of hypolimnetic ammonia accumulation in 1998. A thick mineral deposit apparently formed during the local heavy rainfall and seemed to enclose the freshly deposited organic matter, which might be an effective source material of the hypolimnetic ammonia, and resulted in a low level of ammonia accumulation in 1999. By 2000, the lake seems to have recovered from the perturbation, suggesting that the major part of the hypolimnetic ammonia is derived from fresh organic matter deposited within a year. Received: March 11, 2001 / Accepted: August 26, 2001