PROCOLLAGENS AS MARKERS FOR THE CELL OF ORIGIN OF HUMAN-BONE TUMORS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (2) , 325-328
Abstract
Cells derived from osteogenic sarcomas and from Ewing''s sarcomas, 2 malignant bone tumors, were examined for the types of collagens they elaborated into the tissue culture media. Type I procollagen was the predominant species from all osteogenic sarcoma cell lines, a finding consistent with bone cell origin. The Ewing''s sarcoma cells contained a prominent peak of type III procollagen and resembled the profile of vascular smooth muscle cells. Fibroblasts derived from skin biopsies taken from amputation specimens synthesized type I and type III procollagens at the expected ratio of approximately 3:1. The examination of matrix proteins may provide a general classification scheme for human sarcomas and permit distinction of 1 tumor from another, as well as from normal fibroblasts.