Basaloid-squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth: characterization of a cell line.

Since it was first described in 1986, basaloid-squamous cell carcinoma (BSC) has been considered a distinct variant of squamous cell carcinoma that occurs in a variety of anatomic sites, including the head and neck region. We report the characterization of the first cell line established from a basaloid-squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth. The cell line exhibited a highly invasive capacity, indicating that BSC has very aggressive behavior. This cell line may be a useful model for elucidation of the biological characteristics of BSC.