Human T‐Cell Leukemia Virus‐1‐positive Cell Line Established from a Patient with Small Cell Lung Cancer

A stable cell line, KHM‐3S, was established from a patient with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), who had a high serum level of soluble interleukin 2 receptors (sIL2‐R) and was seropositive for human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV)‐l. KHM‐3S cells were positive for IL2‐R (Tac) and NKH‐1, but negative for other lymphocytic markers such as OKT 11, OKT 4, OKT 8, T cell receptor (WT 31), B 1, and B 4. Moreover, the KHM‐3S cells were negative for leukocyte common antigen and strongly positive for neuron‐specific enolase (NSE). Secretion of sIL2‐R and NSE by the KHM‐3S line was detected by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Rearrangement of the T cell receptor gene and monoclonal HTLV‐1 integration were found by Southern blot analysis of KHM‐3S DNA. However, Northern blot analysis showed no T cell receptor mRNA. KHM‐3S may be useful for studies on the role of HTLV‐1 in carcinogenesis and IL2‐R expression in SCLC.