Phenotypic and genotypic analysis of a human medulloblastoma cell line and transplantable xenograft (D341 Med) demonstrating amplification of c-myc.

D341 Med is a new continuous cell line and transplantable xenograft derived from a cerebellar medulloblastoma. This line grew in vitro in suspension culture with spontaneous macroscopic spheroid formation and demonstrated 20-fold amplification of c-myc. Cultured D341 Med cells injected subcutaneously into athymic mice grew as markedly cellular, highly invasive undifferentiated neoplasms. Intracranial tumors grew as markedly cellular mitotically active neoplasms largely located within the subarachnoid space or lining the ventricular system. Immunocytochemical analysis of the cell line and SQ tumors revealed the high (NFP-H) and middle (NFP-M) molecular weight (Mr) neurofilament proteins (NFPs). Immunoblots demonstrated the presence of molecular species that co-migrated with authentic human NFP-H and NFP-M. This cell line and transplantable xenograft may allow, in conjunction with the authors' other models of human medulloblastoma, analysis of the heterogeneous biologic properties and therapeutic sensitivity of this tumor.