A model for human osteosarcoma in hamsters.

An animal model for human osteosarcoma was established in newborn Syrian golden hamsters by injecting productively infected TE-85 cells (cultured human osteosarcoma cells) adjacent to the femur. Tumors were palpable 10 to 15 days following cell injection and enlarged progresively until the animal died (mean survival time was 36 days). The tumor take was 100% and all animals developed pulmonary metastases. Osteoid and bone were identified in sections of the tumor by light and electron microscopy. Invasion of the marrow spaces and adjacent skeletal muscle by the malignant osteoblasts, anaplastic sarcoma cells and multinucleated giant cells was frequently observed. The tumor was transplantable. TE-85 cell surface antigens were demonstrable by immunofluorescence on the surface of the cells of the induced tumors. The present tumor model had unique immunologic characteristics in that no antibodies were demonstrable in the sera of the tumored animals.