Balanced terminal chromosome translocations develop in EBV-derived, but non-immortal cell lines from patients with mycosis fungoides.

Five lymphoblastoid cell lines established from patients with mycosis fungoides were followed during long-term culture. They all expressed the Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen. Although the established B-cell lines initially showed a normal karyotype, metaphases with balanced terminal translocations gradually occurred. These chromosome abnormalities occurred simultaneously with decreased cell proliferation leading in all cases to termination of the cell lines. This contrasts the usual finding that Epstein-Barr virus established B-lymphoblastoid cell lines are immortal.