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Expeimental Cancer
Characterization of cell lines established from merkel-cell (“small-cell”) carcinoma of the skin
Article first published online: 17 JUL 2006
DOI: 10.1002/ijc.2910550519
Copyright © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company
1097-0215/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=9bea5e55449dab2cff7ad3b06277cc9745417a23 "International Journal of Cancer")
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How to Cite
Leonard, J. H., Bell, J. R. and Kearsley, J. H. (1993), Characterization of cell lines established from merkel-cell (“small-cell”) carcinoma of the skin. Int. J. Cancer, 55: 803–810. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910550519
Publication History
- Issue published online: 17 JUL 2006
- Article first published online: 17 JUL 2006
- Manuscript Revised: 28 JUN 1993
- Manuscript Received: 1 MAR 1993
Funded by
- Queensland Cancer Fund
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Abstract
Six cell lines have been established from different biopsies of the rare small-cell skin cancer of neuro-endocrine origin known as Merkel-cell carcinoma (MCC). These were established from metastatic lesions and have now been in culture for periods varying from 1 to 3 years. All lines grow as suspension cultures and exhibit typical MCC cytological features of small round cells with little cytoplasm, round nuclei and tight junctions. There was variation in the number and size of nucleoli and dense-core granules. We present details of their immunohistochemistry and growth characteristics in culture. The latter were similar to small-cell lung-cancer (SCLC) lines and can be subdivided, by their appearance, into type I, type II and type III in the same way as SCLC lines. This classification may be of significance for the prognosis and management of MCC.