RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study melanoma cell fusion and find a highly efficient fusion method for tumor cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Melanoma cells were labeled with green fluorescent protein and red fluorescent protein, respectively, and fused by a modified phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-ECM830 fusion method. Melanoma fusion cells were selected by the fluorescence activated cell sorting. DNA content was determined by propidium iodide staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Melanoma cells were labeled with green fluorescent protein and red fluorescent protein markers and successfully fused through PHA-ECM830 fusion method. The fusion efficiency (7.18%) was much higher compared with ECM830 electricfusion method (0.50%). Melanoma fusion cells were successfully obtained by the fluorescence activated cell sorting.DNA content was doubled in melanoma fusion cells compared to B16-F10 melanoma cells. The proliferation rate of melanoma fusion cells was significantly decreased in vitro and in vivo.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>We successfully obtained the melanoma fusion cells by the improved PHA-ECM830 fusion method. The proliferation rate of melanoma fusion cells dramatically decreases.</p>