Establishment of a human medulloblastoma cell line.

A cell line consisting of polygonal and fusiform cells was derived from a cerebellar medulloblastoma. Cells grew to high population density in liquid medium and formed colonies in agar medium. No neural or glial elements could be demonstrated in the cultured cells by electron microscopy nor were virus particles detected. The cells formed tumors in nude mice and in antithymocytic serum (ATS)-treated hamsters. The tumors had a microscopic appearance similar to that of the medulloblastoma from which the cell line was derived. The cell line and lines derived from the transplant tumors in two hosts had four common "marker" chromosomes as well as non-specific cytogenetic changes.