A new human osteosarcoma strain (Os-Beppu) with a high rate of pulmonary metastasis in nude mice.

A new human osteosarcoma strain (Os-Beppu) transplantable in nude mice has been established. A high frequency of metastasis (87.2%) to the lung was observed throughout nine passages. Histologically the subcutaneous tumor and the metastatic lesions in nude mice were similar to the original human tumor, and osteoid and osteoclast formation were preserved. Osteoblasts were strongly positive for alkaline phosphatase, while osteoclasts were positive for acid phosphatase. Karyotype analysis revealed human chromosomes with a modal chromosome number of 41 (63.3%) and two marker chromosomes.