Establishment and characterization of two human cutaneous angiosarcoma cell lines, KU-CAS3 and KU-CAS5

Abstract

Background Cutaneous angiosarcoma (CAS) is a rare but fatal cancer. Established CAS cell lines are necessary for the investigation of their properties and treatment options. Methods Two cell lines, KU-CAS3 and KU-CAS5, were established from human angiosarcoma specimens obtained from the scalp. Flow cytometric assay, tube formation assay, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake assay, immunofluorescence analysis, real-time PCR, tumorigenesis assay, and STR analysis were conducted. Results The cells showed endothelial cell properties, based on the cobblestone appearance upon reaching confluence, CD31 positivity, tube-formation activity, active uptake of acetylated LDL, and vWF expression. The two cell lines expressed relatively high levels of adrenergic beta 2 receptor, and the VEGF1 and VEGF2 receptors. In the in vivo study, the growing neoplasms, confirmed as CAS, were identified as subcutaneous dark papules. KU-CAS cell lines were considered authentic based on STR profiling. Conclusions KU-CAS3 and KU-CAS5 are the first human CAS cell lines having tumorigenic potential in vivo.