Changes in the Morphological and Immunological Characteristics of Mel Ibr Melanoma Cells in Response to Chicken Embryo Extract.

Exposure of Mel Ibr human melanoma cells to chicken embryo extract resulted in the appearance of a subclone with morphological and growth characteristics similar to those of embryonic stem cells. The subclone differed from the parental line cells by a sharply reduced percentage of HLA-DR(+) and CD54(+) cells, a significantly elevated percentage of CD63(+) cells, and appearance of CD133(+) and Oct-4A(+) cells. Hence, the subclone cells were characterized by the same features as stem tumor cells and could be responsible for further progress of tumor growth.