ESTABLISHMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A HUMAN GLIOBLASTOMA-MULTIFORMECELL-LINE

Cell lines provide a useful system for further understanding the biolo gy of glioblastoma multiforme. In this study, a new glioblastoma multi forme cell line, GATAGM-96 (Gulhane Askeri Tip Akademisi-Glioblastoma Multiforme-96), was established from a tumor specimen removed from an 80-year-old male patient who underwent surgery for intracranial tumor. Morphologic examination, immunocytochemical staining, growth kinetics , and karyotypic characteristics of this cell line were studied. The c ytoskeleton wets positive for neuron-specific enolase, vimentin, and n eurofilament, and it was negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein, S-100 protein, p53 protein, epidermal growth factor, and transforming growth factor cc. Growth kinetic studies demonstrated an approximate population doubling time of 38 to 42 h and a colony forming efficiency of 83.3%. The karyotype of the cells demonstrated it as hyperdiploid, with a large subpopulation of polyploid cells. There were numerous st ructural and numerical chromosome aberrations; most of them were prese nt as clonal events. The phenotypic and chromosomal features detailed on the GATAGM-96 cell line should make it a useful addition to the cel l lines currently available for in vitro and in vivo studies of gliobl astoma multiforme. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 1998.