Cytogenomic Characterization of Murine Cell Line Sarcoma 180 = S-180

The cell line Sarcoma 180, which is also called S-180 (or S180), was established about 110 years ago from a murine axillary sarcoma. It has been applied in >5000 studies but was never genetically characterized in detail; this study fills that gap. The cell line Sarcoma 180 was analyzed for its chromosomal constitution using molecular cytogenetic approaches, specifically murine multicolor banding (mcb). Additionally, array comparative genomic hybridization was performed to characterize copy number alterations. Sarcoma 180 has a near tetraploid karyotype without Y-chromosome material and only two X-chromosomes. The complex karyotype includes dicentrics and simple and complex rearrangements and shows a relatively high chromosomal instability. An in silico translation of the obtained results to the human genome indicated that Sarcoma 180 is suitable as a model for advanced human mesenchymal chondrosarcoma.