Establishment of a new continuous clear cell sarcoma cell line. Morphological and cytogenetic characterization and detection of chimaeric EWS/ATF-1 transcripts

Virchows Arch. 1997 Jul;431(1):45-51. doi: 10.1007/s004280050068.

Abstract

Clear cell sarcoma (CCS), a rare tumour of deep soft tissues, often has a t(12; 22) (q13; q12) translocation that induces the formation of a hybrid EWS/ATF-1 gene. To investigate these alterations further, we established a new continuous cell line directly from a CCS taken from a 9-year-old girl. The cultures were characterized with respect to morphological, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical and karyotypical features and were tested by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) for chimaeric EWS/ATF-1 transcripts. The continuous cell line, designated KAO, is tumorigenic in nude mice, and the resultant tumours resemble the primary CCS. The tumour cells and the cultured cells have melanosomes in their cytoplasm and are immunoreactive with the melanoma-specific antibody HMB45, but do not express S-100 protein. The cultured CCS cells have the t(12; 22)(q13; q12) translocation and express the hybrid EWS/ATF-1 gene. No transcripts of the hybrid gene were detected in a malignant cutaneous melanoma tested simultaneously. Although CCS and malignant melanoma are morphologically related, the present results suggest that their geneses differ at the chromosome and molecular levels. They also indicate that chromosome analysis and detection of fusion EWS/ATF-1 transcripts may be useful adjuvant tools for the diagnosis of CCS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activating Transcription Factor 1
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Base Sequence
  • Child
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA, Complementary / analysis
  • DNA, Complementary / chemistry
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins*
  • Female
  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Karyotyping
  • Melanocytes / pathology
  • Melanocytes / ultrastructure
  • Melanoma-Specific Antigens
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Proteins / analysis
  • Oligonucleotides / analysis
  • Oligonucleotides / chemistry
  • Oligonucleotides / genetics
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / analysis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics*
  • Ribonucleoproteins / analysis
  • Ribonucleoproteins / genetics*
  • Sarcoma, Clear Cell / chemistry
  • Sarcoma, Clear Cell / genetics*
  • Sarcoma, Clear Cell / pathology*
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Transcription Factors / analysis
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Translocation, Genetic
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Activating Transcription Factor 1
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Atf1 protein, mouse
  • DNA, Complementary
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins
  • Melanoma-Specific Antigens
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Oligonucleotides
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Ribonucleoproteins
  • Transcription Factors