Establishment and characterization of 5 human cell lines derived from a series of 50 primary intracranial tumors.

A series of 50 human primary intracranial tumors were cultivated in vitro in an attempt to establish cell lines with the trypsinization technique. During the in vitro adaptation period, cultures were maintained at high cell density to avoid rapid over-growth by connective tissue. Five lines were established from 5 tumors including 4 malignant gliomas (SA4, SA44, SA45, SA101) and 1 meningeal sarcoma (SA39). These 5 lines were compared for the following investigations and criteria: light and electron microscopy, chromosomal patterns, saturation density, plating efficiency, doubling time, synthesis of collagen, S-100 and GFA proteins, response to d b-c AMP and tumorigenicity into nude mice. For one or more of the characteristics mentioned above each line was distinct from the others. None of the growth parameters that serve to define the abnormal state in vitro correlated consistently with cellular tumorigenicity in athymic nude mice. The nature of lines derived from gliomas remain uncertain and the collagen synthesis in vitro is not sufficient to affirm that these lines are mesenchymal rather than glial.