Characterization of 11 human sarcoma cell strains: Evaluation of cytogenetics, tumorigenicity, metastasis, and production of angiogenic factors

BACKGROUND. Human sarcomas have a propensity for aggressive local invasion and early pulmonary metastasis. Frequently, deaths are due to uncontrolled pulmonary metastases. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate cytogenetics, tumorigenicity, metastatic potential, and production of angiogenic factors in human sarcoma cell strains. A secondary purpose was to establish low passage cell strains for studying new therapeutic approaches. METHODS. The authors established 11 cell strains from human sarcoma surgical specimens and characterized their in vitro tumor properties, including growth in soft agar, expression of angiogenic growth factors (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and basic-fibroblast growth factor [bFGF]), and cytogenetics. RESULTS. All of the cell strains remained diploid. All exhibited the ability to grow in soft agar and expressed both VEGF as well as bFGF. In addition, 6 of the 11 established sarcoma cell strains were tumorigenic, 5 of which spontaneously metastasized to the lungs in nude mice. Four of the five cell strains that yielded lung metastases were derived from lung metastases in patients. CONCLUSIONS. The 11 cell strains, which were derived from diverse sarcoma histologies, will provide a model for studying not only metastatic progression but also the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of new therapeutic modalities for human sarcomas.