727 ISOLATION OF FOUR UNUSUAL PEDIATRIC SOLID TUMOR CELL LINES

Abstract

Four well-characterized, unique cell lines are now available for cancer, immunological, and cell differentiation research. They are derived from malignant melanoma, leiomyoblastoma, osteosarcoma, and Wilm's tumor in P-3 containment facilities in the absence of viruses and other human-animal cell lines. True Wilm's tumor and leiomyoblastoma cell lines, and a malignant melanoma line faithfully producing melanin, and a highly transformed non-fibroblastic osteosarcoma cell line have not been previously existent. All have been in culture for greater than two years and are transformed growing easily in soft agar suspension. They are human by immunofluorescence, karyotype, and G-6-PD (type B) isoenzymes. All cell lines have been studied extensively by electron microscopy. Extensive virological, immunological, and biochemical studies demonstrate little evidence for viruses similar to known RNA and DNA tumor viruses. Both early and late passages are now available from The American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md.