Suppression of Tumorigenicity, but Not Invasion, in Glioblastoma/hela Cell Hybrids

Somatic cell hybrids between SNB-19 human glioblastoma cells and human D98OR HeLa cells were produced and analyzed for their ability to form tumors in nude mice and to invade reconstituted extracellular matrix (Matrigel). Whereas both the SNB-19 and D98OR HeLa parental cells form tumors, four of six hybrid lines did not form tumors, even after periods up to six months, suggesting that each cell type can complement the tumorigenicity of the other. SNB-19 cells showed high rates of Matrigel invasion at all cell densities examined, whereas D98OR HeLa cells showed lower rates of invasion that were further reduced at high cell density. All six hybrid cell lines displayed a combination of these properties: at low cell density, the hybrids showed high rates of invasion, similar to the SNB-19 cells, but the invasion rate diminished at higher cell densities, similar to the D98OR HeLa cells. Taken together, these results provide new experimental evidence that several distinct genetic changes are involved in generating the tumorigenic and invasive phenotype of glioblastoma cells.