title: Establishment and Characterization of a Human Small Cell Osteosarcoma Cancer Stem Cell Line: A New Possible In Vitro Model for Discovering Small Cell Osteosarcoma Biology.
abstract: Osteosarcoma (OSA) is the most common primary malignant bone tumor, usually arising in the long bones of children and young adults. There are different subtypes of OSA, among which we find the conventional OS (also called medullary or central osteosarcoma) which has a high grade of malignancy and an incidence of 80%. There are different subtypes of high grade OS like chondroblastic, fibroblastic, osteoblastic, telangiectatic, and the small cell osteosarcoma (SCO). In this study, for the first time, we have isolated, established, and characterized a cell line of cancer stem cells (CSCs) from a human SCO. First of all, we have established a primary finite cell line of SCO, from which we have isolated the CSCs by the sphere formation assay. We have proved their in vitro mesenchymal and embryonic stem phenotype. Additionally, we have showed their neoplastic phenotype, since the original tumor bulk is a high grade osteosarcoma. This research demonstrates the existence of CSCs also in human primary SCO and highlights the establishment of this particular stabilized cancer stem cell line. This will represent a first step into the study of the biology of these cells to discover new molecular targets molecules for new incisive therapeutic strategies against this highly aggressive OSA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine (DCMT), University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaia
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8376-7404
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palmini
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine (DCMT), University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zonefrati
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine (DCMT), University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6615-5601
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.affiliation: Neurofarba Department, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4556-913X
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aldinucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine (DCMT), University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mavilia
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine (DCMT), University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gigliola
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2410-6016
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leoncini
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine (DCMT), University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology and General Orthopaedics, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, 50139 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Capanna
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine (DCMT), University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9309-6248
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Brandi