Objective To compare the differences of chromosome aberration and Rb 1 gene mutation among 3 cloned cells of SO-Rb50 cell line of retinoblastoma. Methods 1.Three cell cloned strains named MC2, MC3, MC4 were isolated from SO-Rb50. 2. Gbanding and karyotype analysis were performed on the llth passage cells of the 3 cell strains.3.All exons and the promoter region of the Rb gene were detected by PCR-SSCP analysis in tumor cell DNA extracted from the 3 cell strains. Results 1.Both numerical and structural chromosomal aberrations could be observed in these 3 cell strains.Several kinds of structural chromosomal aberrations were observed.The chromosome aberrations in the same passage of different cell strains were different.Aberration of chromosome 13 was rare and the aberration feature was different in the 3 cell strains.Five marker chromosomes were identified.M1,t(1;1)qter-p35∷q24-ter could befound in all cell strains.Two of them M4 and M5,have not been reported in SO-Rb50 cell line previously.2.SSCP analysis of exon 24 showed that MC411 and MC3138 had abnormal band. Conclusions The characteristics of heterogeneity of the original tumor cell line SO-Rb50are still kept during a long-term culture in vitro and the cloned strains had dynamic changes during this period.Aberration of chromosome 13 is not the only cause of RB;aberration of chromosome 1,a commom event in some neoplasias as well as in SO-Rb50, plays a meaningful role in the immortalization of this cell line. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 1999, 15: 146-148)