Masayuki Soma

Histogenesis of carcinosarcoma and Establishment of leiomyosarcoma cell line (HTMMT) derived from human uterine carcinosarcoma

A cell line designated HTMMT was established from the human uterine carcinosarcoma (composed of leiomyosarcoma and adenocarcinoma) of a 66-year-old Japanese woman. The cell line grew well and 83 serial passages were successively done within 24 months. The cell line contained spindle- or fibrous-shaped cells that revealed neoplastic and pleomorphic features, and multipled rapidly without contact inhibition. These cells were characterized as possessing myofibrils. The karyotype exhibited hyperploidy and the chromosome number was ranged from 87 to 100. The cells were transplanted into an immune-depressed hamster cheek pouch or into nude mouse skin, but produced no tumors. We supported the combination theory for the histogenesis of the carcinosarcoma.

Biological characteristics of cultured cells derived from various types of human brain tumors

We placed in culture brain tumors from 45 cases (7 cases of astrocytoma, 2 from oligodendrogliomas, 2 glioblastomas, 2 ependymomas, 13 meningiomas, 6 pituitary adenomas. 5 neurinomas, a malignant lymphoma, a choroid plexus papilloma, and 6 metastatic tumors) and succeeded in making a primary culture from 33, and maintained 17 in vitro over a considerable period of time (greater than three months). In the early period of the primary cultures, the astrocytoma cells had cytoplasmic processes which contacted each other, the oligodendroglioma cells were small and spindle-shaped, the glioblastoma cells were neoplastic with pleopmorphic features and possessed cytoplasmic processes, the ependymoma cells formed a rosette-like cell arrangement, the meningioma cells were spindle-or round-shaped cells and characterized as forming psammoma bodies, the pituitary adenoma cells were round- or oval-shaped cells and produced growth hormone (GH), adenocorticoid tropic hormone (ACTH), prolactin, or other hypophyseal hormones, the choroid plexus papilloma cells were round-or polygonal and showed a papillary cell arrangement, the neurinoma cells were spindleor fibrous-shaped cells, and the malignant lymphoma cells were round and formed cell aggregates floating in the culture medium.

Establishment and characterization of a human thyroid carcinoma cell line (HOTHC) producing colony stimulating factor

A cell line designated HOTHC was established from an anaplastic carcinoma (giant cell type) of the thyroid gland of 80-year-old woman. The HOTHC line grew rapidly in multilayer without contact inhibition, and more than 120 serial passages were made within 27 months. The cells were spindle or polygonal in shape and revealed neoplastic and pleomorphic features. These cells were characterized as containing coloid droplets and poorly developed rough-endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm. Doubling time was about 24 hours and plating efficiency was about 70%. The karyotype exhibits hyperploidy and marker chromosomes, and the modal chromosome number ranged between 77–90. The HOTHC cells were transplanted into the subcutis of BALB/c nude mice and produced anaplatic carcinomas (giant cell type) resembling the original tumor.The HOTHC cells produced colony stimulating factor (CSF) and caused granulocytosis in the mice.