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Characterization of an established human, malignant, glioblastoma cell line (GBM) and its response to conventional drugs

  • Original Papers
  • Experimental Oncology
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Abstract

A cell line, GBM, was established from a human malignant glioblastoma and was characterized with particular reference to its response to conventional drugs. The GBM cell line exhibited a 73±7 h doubling time in monolayer cultures. Experssion of glial fibrillary acidic and S-100 proteins was observed. Karyotype analysis of GBM cells at early passages revealed the presence of two near-triploid clones (A and B) with multiple chromosome rearrangements; a 100% frequency for clone B was observed in the established cell line. GBM cells had tumorigenic properties, since the s.c. injection of cultured cells into nude mice gave rise to slowly growing tumors. The morphology of GBM cells was retained during in vitro and in vivo passages, as judged by light microscopy. GBM cells were relatively resistant to most conventional drugs; among the tested drugs, only taxol exhibited a marked cytotoxic effect comparable to that found in cells of a different tumor type. GBM cells were found positive for the epidermal growth factor receptor, HER2-neu and P-glycoprotein by flow cytometry of cells labelled with monoclonal antibodies. In spite of the expression of relatively high γ-glutamyltransferase activity, the intracellular glutathione level was comparable to that of other chemosensitive tumor cells. This glioblastoma cell line is a suitable model for the identification and preclinical studies of new agents and provides an additional system to explore the molecular basis of the intrinsic drug resistance of glioblastoma.

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Abbreviations

GFA protein:

glial fibrillary acidic protein

EDTA:

ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

PBS:

phosphate-buffered saline

BSA:

bovine serum albumin

GSH:

glutathione

γ-GT:

γ-glutamyl transferase

WCP DNA probe:

whole-chromosome-painting DNA probe

SSC:

standard saline citrate

MTT:

3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide

gp170:

P glycoprotein

MDR:

multidrug resistance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Experimental Oncology B, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura die Tumori, Via Venezian 1, I-20133, Milan, Italy

    Paola Perego, Nives Carenini, Michelandrea De Cesare, Carla Soranzo & Franco Zunino

  2. Division of Experimental Oncology E, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, I-20133, Milan, Italy

    Stefania Martignone

  3. Dipartimento di Anatomia ed Istologia Patologica, Istituto Nazionale per lo studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, I-20133, Milan, Italy

    Roberto Giardini

  4. Istituto Neurologico “C. Besta”, Via Celoria 11, I-20133, Milan, Italy

    Amerigo Boiardi & Antonio Silvani

  5. Dipartimento di Biologia e Genetica, School of Medicine, Via Viotti 3/5, I-20133, Milan, Italy

    Ersilia Dolfini & Ivana Magnani

Authors
  1. Paola Perego
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  2. Amerigo Boiardi
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  3. Nives Carenini
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  4. Michelandrea De Cesare
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  5. Ersilia Dolfini
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  6. Roberto Giardini
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  7. Ivana Magnani
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  8. Stefania Martignone
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  9. Antonio Silvani
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  10. Carla Soranzo
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  11. Franco Zunino
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Additional information

This work was supported in part by the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Progetto Finalizzato “Applicazioni cliniche della ricercy oncologica”) and by the Associazione Italiana Ricerca sul Cancro

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Perego, P., Boiardi, A., Carenini, N. et al. Characterization of an established human, malignant, glioblastoma cell line (GBM) and its response to conventional drugs. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 120, 585–592 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01212812

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01212812

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