Synthesis of pro-collagen type II by a xenotransplanted human chondroblastic osteosarcoma

The chondroblastic component of a human osteosarcoma was established as a transplantable tumor in nude athymic mice for the first time. The collagen biosynthetic production of the excised tumor was studied in organ culture. The majority of the collagen secreted in the culture media was pro-Type II as identified by diethylaminoethyl cellulose (DEAE cellulose) chromatography, gel electrophoresis, and cyanogen bromide cleavage. This system should be useful for producing large quantities of human pro-Type II collagen and for studying neoplastic cell switching of collagen synthesis.