Establishment and characterization of a cell line (NOMH-1) originating from a human endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the ovary

BACKGROUND: Cell lines are very useful for clinical and basic research. Thus far, only 11 reports have documented the characteristics of ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma cell lines in the literature. Due to the scarcity of information, the establishment of an ovarian malignant tumor cell line with distinctive characteristics is particularly important to study this disease. Thus, this study was undertaken to establish and characterize a new human endometrioid adenocarcinoma cell line of the ovary. METHODS: The cell line NOMH-1 was established from an ovarian tumor of a 44-year-old woman. Features of the cell line studied included morphology, chromosome analysis, heterotransplantation, tumor markers, and chemosensitivity. RESULTS: This cell line has been growing well for 232 months and subcultured more than 50 times. Monolayer cultured cells were polygonal in shape, showing a pavement-like arrangement and a tendency to stack without contact inhibition. They exhibited a human karyotype with a modal chromosomal number in the hypertriploid range. The cells could be transplanted into the subcutis of nude mice and produced tumors resembling the original tumor. NOMH-1 cells expressed both CEA and CA19-9 which were identified immunohistochemically in the original tumor and the heterotransplanted tumor. The cells were sensitive to paclitaxel, an agent commonly used in the treatment of gynecological cancers. CONCLUSIONS: NOMH-1 is the first ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma cell line in which CEA and CA19-9 expression have been defined. This newly established cell line should be useful for investigating the characteristics of ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma.