A human B-cell lymphoma line with a de novo multidrug resistance phenotype.

A human diffuse large cell lymphoma line (WSU-DLCL) expressing multidrug resistance (MDR) was established from a patient with primary chemotherapy-resistant disease. This cell line has the same phenotypic features as malignant cells from the patient. The established cell line has features of a mature B-cell neoplasm with no evidence for commitment to other lineages. WSU-DLCL grows in suspension forming relatively large clumps of cells with a doubling time of 20 hours. By light microscopic examination, the cells are very large with primitive lymphoid features, have a large amount of cytoplasm containing numerous vacuoles and an irregular outline. Immunophenotypic characterization by monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometric analysis showed a monoclonal IgM kappa B-cell phenotype with high expression of the multidrug-resistant P-glycoprotein compared with either normal peripheral blood lymphocytes or cells of the REH cell line. The cells were negative for T-cell and myeloid/monocyte antigens as well as Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen (EBNA). In addition, the cell line expressed high levels of MDR RNA. DNA histogram generated by flow cytometry indicated a DNA index of 1.83. Cytogenetic analysis confirmed hypertriploidy and showed complex chromosomal abnormalities including 14q+. This cell line should be a valuable tool to study the role of the MDR gene in the primary resistance of lymphomas to chemotherapy and to facilitate therapeutic investigations.