Establishment and characterization of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line FHCC-98

Aim: To establish a novel human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line FHCC-98 from HCC tissue and to provide a suitable model for studying HCC occurrence, progress and metastasis. Methods: Serially passaged cells were cultured and their morphologies were observed under light and electron microscope. Cytogenetic study was conducted by using flow cytometry and chromosome analysis. Expressions of tumor markers such as α-fetoprotein (AFP), cytokeratin (CK) and hepatoma metastasis-associated factor HAb18G/CD147 on the FHC&98 cells were detected by immunocytochemistry or Western blotting. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes were detected by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Xenograft was performed by inoculating FHCC-98 cells into the flanks of nude mice. Results: Morphology of FHCC-98 cells was the same as that of other malignant cells. The expressions of the cells were positive for HAb18G/CD147 and CK, and negative for AFR Its population doubling time was 21.4 h. The cell DNA was tetraploid and the major chromosomes were triploid by cytogenetics analysis. The tumorigenicity in nude mice was 100%. PAGE showed four bands representing LDH₂, LDH₃, LDH₄ and LDH₅. Conclusion: FHCC-98 is a novel HCC cell line and an ideal cell model for further exploring the mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma invasion and metastasis.