Characterization of primary glioma cell lines derived from the patients according to 2016 CNS tumour WHO classification and comparison with their parental tumours

BACKGROUND: Gliomas represent about 80% of primary brain tumours and about 30% of malignant ones, which today don't have a resolution therapy because of their variability. A valid model for the study of new personalized therapies can be represented by primary cultures from patient's tumour biopsies.

METHODS: In this study we consider 12 novel cell lines established from patients' gliomas and immunohistochemically and molecularly characterized according to the newly updated 2016 CNS Tumour WHO classification.

RESULTS: Eight of these lines were glioblastoma cells, two grade III glioma cells (anaplastic astrocytoma and oligo astrocytoma) and two low grade glioma cells (grade II astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma). All cell lines were analysed by immunohistochemistry for specific glioma markers, respectively VIMENTIN, GFAP, IDH1R132, and ATRX. The methylation status of the MGMT gene promoter was also determined in all lines. The comparison of the immunohistochemical characteristics and of the MGMT methylation status of the lines with the tissues of origin shows that the cells in culture maintain the same characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS: Human cancer cell lines represent a support in the knowledge of tumour biology and in drug discovery through its facile experimental manipulation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04180046.