Cytogenetic analysis of choriocarcinoma cell lines.

Five permanent cell lines were established in vitro from patients with gestational choriocarcinoma. Chromosome study with Q-band technique showed a modal chromosome number per cell in the hypotetraploid range in all cell lines. There were unidentifiable, structurally altered chromosomes in each cell line. BeWo cell line from choriocarcinoma following delivery of a normal male baby lost identifiable Y chromosome, whereas Jar cell line following delivery of a normal male did have a Y chromosome. One of the two cell lines following complete hydatidiform mole had a Y chromosome. The significance of this finding is discussed.