Establishment and Characterization of a New Ewing's Sarcoma Cell Line From a Malignant Pleural Effusion

Background: Ewing's sarcoma cell lines may represent a good in vitro model for the understanding of tumor biology in this heterogeneous group of diseases. In the present study, we report the establishment and characterization of a primary Ewing's sarcoma cell line (LDS-Falck 01). Materials and Methods: LDS-Falck 01 was generated from a malignant pleural effusion of a patient with metastatic peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor arising from the chest wall. Extensive characterization of the cells was accomplished using immunocytochemical, RT-PCR and cytogenetic studies. Results: In vitro LDS-Falck 01 cells had both anchorage-dependent and -independent growth patterns. Immunocytochemical studies showed that cells were PAS-, vimentin-, CD99- and NSE- positive, EGFR- and CD117-negative. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a complex hyperdiploid karyotype with multiple chromosomal aberrations including an unbalanced translocation t(11;22)(q24;q12). The EWS/FLI1 chimeric transcript type 1 was detected. Conclusion: This cell line may represent a valid tool for investigating the biomolecular characteristics of this group of neoplasms and their sensitivity to therapeutic agents. The Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) include many related malignancies such as Ewing sarcoma (ES), Askin's tumor of the thoracic wall and peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (pPNET) (1). They are the second most common type of sarcoma among children and young adults, arising more frequently in the bone and soft tissues