Characteristics of the newly derived human chondrosarcoma cell line OSHU-1: observations on osteoinduction

A cell line designated OSHU-1 was produced by cell culture of a grade II chondrosarcoma excised as a whole from the public bone of a 59-year-old man. The OSHU-1 chondrosarcoma cell line was maintained in vitro for over 10 months and was invariably tumorigenic when injected in inbred BALB/c athymic nude mice. The karyotype was grossly abnormal and suggestive of a malignant growth. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed features commonly associated with malignant transformation. Transplants of the isolated tumor cells reproduced many of the microscopic, histochemical, and biosynthetic features of the original chondrosarcoma. Hydroxyproline and uronic acid rapidly accumulated between 2 and 3 weeks after transplantation. 35S uptake increased about 5,5-fold within 7 days after transplantation. After 4-6 weeks in athymic mice, the rate of growth of the chondrosarcoma reached a plateau. The interior of the tumor calcified, while on the surface the tumor induced the formation of new bone and bone marrow, apparently of host origin.