Cultivation in vitro of cells derived from a human osteosarcoma

A cell line was derived from an osteosarcoma. Cells grew to high population density in liquid medium and formed colonies in agar medium. The cell line consisted of polygonal or fusiform cells resembling the cells of the original tumor. No collagen fibers or calcium apatite microcrystals could be demonstrated in the cultured cells by electron microscopy nor were virus particles detected. Isoenzyme studies of the cell line revealed the “B” band of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Chromosome studies of the cell line revealed a range of stem line number from 58 to 65; chromosome counts ranged from 47 to 183. Some cells had marker chromosome of varied morphology and some had minute chromosomes. Chromosome breaks were found in 30.5% of the cells.