TABLE 1.
Summary of soft agar assay results and tumorigenicity dataa
| Cell type | No. of colonies in soft agar | No. of tumors/no. of mice | Time of appearanceb | No. of animals with metastases/total | Organs or area involved (no. of mice) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parental HaCaT | 0 | 1/3 | >8 | 0/3 | None |
| HaCaT vector | 0 | 3/6 | >8 | 0/6 | None |
| LMP2A HaCaT | 206 | 18/18 | 1–2 | 10/18 | Mesenteric and subhepatic LNc (10), abdomen (1) |
a
Vector control and LMP2A-expressing HaCaT cells were cultured in soft agar for 3 weeks, and colonies were counted in five random microscopic fields at ×5 magnification. Tumor formation was assayed after subcutaneous injection of cells into nude mice. Of the animals injected with LMP2A-expressing cells, 55% developed metastases involving mainly lymphoid tissues. Several animals had multiple-organ involvement.
b
Weeks postinjection.
c
LN, lymph nodes.