Cells derived from osteogenic sarcomas and from Ewing's sarcomas, two malignant bone tumors, were examined for the types of collagens they elaborated into the tissue culture media. Type I procollagen was the predominant species from all osteogenic sarcoma cell lines, a finding consistent with bone cell origin. The Ewing's sarcoma cells contained a prominent peak of type III procollagen and resembled the profile of vascular smooth muscle cells. Fibroblasts derived from skin biopsies taken from amputation specimens synthesized both type I and type III procollagens at the expected ratio of approximately 3:1. The examination of matrix proteins may provide a general classification scheme for human sarcomas and permit distinction of one tumor from another, as well as from normal fibroblasts.

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©1980 American Association for Cancer Research.
1980
Cancer Research, Inc.