Activation of related transforming genes in mouse and human mammary carcinomas.

High molecular weight DNAs of five tumors induced by mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV), two mouse mammary tumors induced by a chemical carcinogen, and one human mammary tumor cell line (MCF-7) were assayed for the presence of transmissible activated transforming genes by transfection of NIH 3T3 mouse cells. DNAs of all five MMTV-induced tumors, one chemical carcinogen-induced tumor, and the human tumor cell line induced transformation with high efficiencies (approximately 0.2 transformant per micrograms of DNA). NIH cells transformed by DNAs of MMTV-induced tumors did not contain exogenous MMTV DNA sequences, indicating that MMTV-induced mammary carcinomas contained activated cellular transforming genes that were not linked to viral DNA. The transforming activities of DNAs of all five MMTV-induced tumors, the chemical carcinogen-induced mouse tumor, and the human tumor cell line were inactivated by digestion with the restriction endonucleases Pvu II and Sac I, but not by BamHI, EcoRI, HindIII, Kpn I, or Xho I. These results indicate that the same or closely related transforming genes were activated in six different mouse mammary carcinomas, induced by either MMTV or a chemical carcinogen, and in a human mammary carcinoma cell line.     

Expression of an 86-kilodalton glycoprotein in an idiopathic mammary adenocarcinoma of a BALB/c mouse.

An epithelial cell line (BALB/c-ST) was established from a mammary adenocarcinoma that developed spontaneously in a 20-month-old BALB/c mouse. Like uninfected normal tissues, the cell line was found to contain three endogeneous murine mammary tumor virus (MuMTV) proviruses, but MuMTV particles and antigens were not detected. The cultured cells, after being inoculated subcutaneously, produced tumors in syngeneic mice, and sera from a high percentage of the tumor-bearing mice specifically immunoprecipitated an 86-kilodalton antigen from the extracts of BALB/c-ST cells. This antigen was found to be glycosylated, but whether or not it was exposed to the cell surface could not be demonstrated by cell-surface iodination and immunoprecipitation studies. The 86-kilodalton antigen, a glycoprotein designated gp86, was not detected in immunoprecipitates from extracts of normal mammary cells or from the extracts of GR, C3H, and BALB/cfC3H mammary tumor cells. After being infected in vitro with RIII-derived MuMTV but not with C3H-derived MuMTV, the BALB/c-ST cells appeared to undergo a phenotypic change in that they did not produce tumors in syngeneic mice, and the expression of gp86 was inhibited. Our results indicate that the expression of gp86 in the mammary cells of BALB/c mice is a consequence of neoplastic transformation and that MuMTV infection modulates its expression.     

Resistance of human cells to tumorigenesis induced by cloned transforming genes.

The transformation of human cells was examined by transfection of cloned oncogenic DNAs derived from the tumor virus simian virus 40 and from the human bladder carcinoma cell line EJ into diploid fibroblasts derived from foreskin (FS-2 cells). The simian virus 40 DNA was found to induce a morphologically transformed phenotype, leading to easily detectable focus formation. Tumor antigen was produced, but the transformed cells were not tumorigenic in the nude mouse. The EJ gene, a mutant form of the cellular c-Ha-ras gene, actively transforms NIH/3T3 mouse cells and CHEF/18 hamster cells but is inactive in FS-2 cells. Morphological transformation, focus formation, and tumorigenicity in nude mice were not induced when EJ DNA was transfected into FS-2 cells by using the selectable vector pSVgptEJ. The intactness of the transfected EJ DNA was established by restriction fragment analysis. This result raises the question of what role, if any, the mutated gene derived from the EJ cells played in the origin of the EJ bladder carcinoma.     

A spectrum of monoclonal antibodies reactive with human mammary tumor cells.

Splenic lymphocytes of mice, immunized with membrane-enriched fractions of metastatic human mammary carcinoma tissues, were fused with the NS-1 non-immunoglobulin-secreting murine myeloma cell line. This resulted in the generation of hybridoma cultures secreting immunoglobulins reactive in solid-phase radioimmunoassays with extracts of metastatic mammary carcinoma cells from involved livers, but not with extracts of apparently normal human liver. As a result of further screening of immunoglobulin reactivities and double cloning of cultures, 11 monoclonal antibodies were chosen that demonstrated reactivities with human mammary tumor cells and not with apparently normal human tissues. These monoclonal antibodies could be placed into at least five major groups on the basis of their differential binding to the surface of various live human mammary tumor cells in culture, to extracts of mammary tumor tissues, or to tissue sections of mammary tumor cells studied by the immunoperoxidase technique. Whereas a spectrum of reactivities to mammary tumors was observed with the 11 monoclonal antibodies, no reactivity was observed to apparently normal cells of the following human tissues: breast, lymph node, lung, skin, testis, kidney, thymus, bone marrow, spleen, uterus, thyroid, intestine, liver, bladder, tonsils, stomach, prostate, and salivary gland. Several of the antibodies also demonstrated a "pancarcinoma" reactivity, showing binding to selected non-breast carcinomas. None of the monoclonal antibodies showed binding to purified ferritin or carcinoembryonic antigen. Monoclonal antibodies of all five major groups, however, demonstrated binding to human metastatic mammary carcinoma cells both in axillary lymph nodes and at distal sites.     

Oncogenes in human tumor cell lines: molecular cloning of a transforming gene from human bladder carcinoma cells.

The presence of dominant transforming genes in human tumor cell lines has been investigated. High molecular weight DNAs isolated from cell lines established from carcinomas and sarcomas of various organs as well as from a glioblastoma and two melanomas were utilized to transfect NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblasts. The DNAs of T24 and A2182, two cell lines derived from a bladder and a lung carcinoma, respectively, and of HT-1080, a cell line established from a fibrosarcoma, were able to transform recipient NIH/3T3 cells. First-cycle transformants exhibited anchorage-independent growth and were tumorigenic in athymic and immunocompetent mice. Moreover, they contained human DNA sequences and were able to transmit their malignant phenotype in additional cycles of transfection. Southern blot analysis of T24-derived transformants showed that a single fragment of human DNA specifically cosegregated with the malignant phenotype, suggesting that it contained the T24 oncogene. Therefore, these human sequences were molecularly cloned with lambda Charon 9A as the cloning vector. The resulting recombinant DNA molecule, designated lambda T24-15A, was shown to contain a 15-kilobase-pair EcoRI insert of human cellular DNA. lambda T24-15A DNA (either intact or EcoRI digested) transformed NIH/3T3 fibroblasts with a specific activity of 20,000 focus-forming units per pmol of cloned DNA. Our results indicate that we have molecularly cloned a biologically active oncogene present in T24 human bladder carcinoma cells.     

Monoclonal antiidiotypic antibodies related to a murine oncofetal bladder tumor antigen induce specific cell-mediated tumor immunity.

Rat monoclonal antibody 6.10 recognizes a 175-kDa protein expressed in all BALB/c mouse transitional cell bladder carcinomas tested, in epithelial cells of the mouse embryo, and in a few epithelial cells of adult mice. The antibody was used as an immunogen to generate two mouse monoclonal antibodies, 21D9 and 43A10, which bind to idiotopes on antibody 6.10 associated with the binding site for the 175-kDa antigen. The antiidiotypic antibodies induced bladder tumor-specific, cell-mediated immunity when injected into syngeneic mice, as shown by delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions in vivo and leukocyte adherence inhibition reactions in vitro. Tumor specificity was demonstrated by employing as controls a chemically induced BALB/c fibrosarcoma, MCA-1511 (MCA, 3-methylcholanthrene), and its corresponding antiidiotypic antibody, 5.96. Lymphocytes from mice sensitized with antibody 21D9 or 5.96 specifically recognized antigens in extracts of BALB/c bladder carcinoma BTCC-1660 (BTCC, bladder transitional cell carcinoma) and sarcoma MCA-1511, respectively, as shown by leukocyte adherence inhibition reactivity. This reactivity was selectively abrogated by prior treatment of the sensitized cells with the appropriate antiidiotypic antibodies and complement. An antigen recognized in vitro by antibody 21D9-sensitized lymphocytes could be separated from BTCC-1660 extract by immunoabsorption with antibody 6.10 and elution with acidic buffer. Our findings indicate that the oncofetal antigen defined by antibody 6.10 is recognized by the immune system of syngeneic mice and suggest that antiidiotypic antibodies related to certain oncofetal antigens can be used to immunize against syngeneic tumors.     

Transforming genes of human bladder and lung carcinoma cell lines are homologous to the ras genes of Harvey and Kirsten sarcoma viruses.

Blot hybridization analysis indicated that NIH 3T3 mouse bladder transformed by high molecular weight DNAs of a human bladder and a human lung carcinoma cell line contained new sequences homologous, respectively, to the transforming genes of Harvey (rasH) and Kirsten (rasK) sarcoma viruses. The unique ras sequences were present in multiple independent NIH cell lines transformed in both primary and secondary transfection assays and corresponded to ras sequences normally present in human DNAs. The ras gene product was expressed in NIH cells transformed by bladder carcinoma DNAs and in the human bladder carcinoma cell lines at levels 2- to 4-fold greater than the level observed in nontransformed NIH 3T3 cells. These results indicate that the transforming genes of these human tumor cell lines are the cellular homologs of two retroviral transforming genes.     

Transforming activity of human tumor DNAs.

High molecular weight DNAs of 26 human tumors and tumor cell lines were assayed for the presence of transmissible activated transforming genes by transfection of NIH 3T3 mouse cells. DNAs of two bladder carcinoma cell lines induced transformation with high efficiencies (approximately 0.2 transformant per microgram of DNA), whereas DNAs of the other tumors studied lacked detectable transforming activity. These findings suggest that dominant mutations or gene rearrangements can result in the activation of cellular transforming genes in some human tumors.     

Detection in human breast carcinomas of an antigen immunologically related to a group-specific antigen of mouse mammary tumor virus

An antigen immunologically related to a group-specific antigen (gp52, a 52,000-dalton glycoprotein) of the mouse mammary tumor virus has been identified in paraffin sections of human breast cancers by means of the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. The specificity of the reaction with antibody against mouse mammary tumor virus was examined by absorption of the IgG with the following: (a) purified gp52; (b) a number of virus preparations (mouse mammary tumor virus, Rauscher leukemia virus, simian sarcoma virus, baboon endogenous virus, and Mason-Pfizer monkey virus); (c) normal plasma, leukocytes, breast tissue, milk, actin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid, all of human origin; (d) sheep erythrocytes and mucin. Only mouse mammary tumor virus (from C(3)H or Paris RIII strains and grown in either murine or feline cells) and purified gp52 eliminated the immunohistochemical reaction in the human breast tumors.Positive reactions were seen in 51 of 131 (39%) breast carcinomas of various histologic types, a minimal estimate in view of the limited number of sections from each tumor that could be examined. Negative reactions were obtained in all 119 benign breast lesions (cystic disease, fibroadenoma, papilloma, gynecomastia) and in all 18 normal breast tissues. With one exception, 99 carcinomas from 13 organs other than breast and 8 cystosarcomas were all negative.     

Detection of a raf-related and two other transforming DNA sequences in human tumors maintained in nude mice.

High molecular weight DNAs prepared from a variety of human tumors maintained in nude mice were assayed for their ability to transform NIH 3T3 cells. DNAs from 4 of 21 tumors tested induced transformed foci in cultures of NIH 3T3 cells. They were from a Ewing sarcoma line, a glioblastoma line, a leiomyosarcoma line, and a lung carcinoma line. Hybridization analyses of the NIH 3T3 transformant DNAs with a human repetitive sequence as probe revealed that four distinct transforming DNA sequences were transferred to NIH 3T3 cells from the four tumor lines. The transforming DNA in a lung carcinoma line was a human homologue of the oncogene of Kirsten murine sarcoma virus (Ki-ras). On the other hand, the three other transforming DNAs showed no similarity to any known human transforming gene detected by the NIH 3T3 transformation assay. Further analyses with a series of cloned oncogenes as probes revealed that the transforming DNA in a glioblastoma line was a human homologue of the oncogene of 3611-murine sarcoma virus (raf). However, the two transforming DNAs in a Ewing sarcoma line and a leiomyosarcoma line had no sequence homology to any of the cloned oncogenes.     

Two tumor antigens and their polypeptides in adenovirus type 12-infected and transformed cells

A tumor (T) antigen, designated T antigen g, was visualized as fine fluorescent granules in nuclei of adenovirus type 12 (Ad12)-infected cells by immunofluorescence with sera from rats bearing HY cell tumors (H sera). HY cells are rat cells incompletely transformed by the Acc I-H endonuclease fragment (0-4.7 map units) of Ad12 DNA. The antigen is different from the usually described T antigen, designated T antigen f, which is visualized as fluorescent flecks or filaments in both nucleus and cytoplasm of Ad12-infected cells when tested with narrowly reacting T sera. Extracts of [³⁵S]methioninelabeled infected cells were immunoprecipitated with H sera, and the resultant precipitate was analyzed by the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis technique of O'Farrell. The autoradiogram showed the presence of a cluster of several polypeptides (M_r 35,000-40,000, pI 5.0-5.5) that was absent in extracts of mock-infected cells. A similar autoradiogram of infected cells analyzed with narrowly reacting T sera showed the presence of a small polypeptide (M_r 10,000, pI 6.4), that was absent in extracts of mock-infected cells. The results show that M_r 35,000-40,000 polypeptides are components of T antigen g and a M_r 10,000 polypeptide is a component of T antigen f. Ad12-transformed cells showed a similar result. T antigen g was present and T antigen f was absent in HY cells. Both T antigen g and T antigen f were present in CY cells, which are rat cells completely transformed by the EcoRI-C endonuclease fragment (0-16 map units) of Ad12 DNA. The possible functions of these proteins are discussed.     

In vivo induction of neoplastic growth in nude mouse connective tissue adjacent to xenografted human tumors

Summary Induction of neoplastic growth of murine stroma cells within the human tumor xenograft was observed after serial passage of CEA and 2-microglobulin producing human colonic SLu tumor xenografts in nu/nu BALB/c mice. Mouse tumors within the human tumor xenografts wre identified using specific immunohistologic staining techniques for mouse histocompatibility marker or human CEA. These mixed tumors could be distinguished from normal human tumor xenografts by a different relationship between development of the tumor marker in the serum and tumor size. We were able to establish transformed murine cells from human xenografts, either induced by SC injection of 1×10⁶ tumor cells of the SLu cell line or by human SLu or mammary carcinoma tissue serially passaged in athymic animals. The established human and murine cell lines were characterized by cytogenetic methods. Transformed murine cells were then continuously passaged in tissue culture. The transformed mouse fibroblasts proved to possess tumorigenicity in nude mice. In the case of SLu-derived mouse tumor cells, tumors also developed in the immunocompetent BALB/c mice using 1×10⁶ to 5×10⁶ tumor cells for SC transplantation.     

Human mammary gland associated antigens. Lack of D-type retravirus-induced antigens.

Antisera against tumor-associated and organ-specific antigens of human mammary glands, as well as mammary carcinoma patient sera were used in cross-reactions with the test-system for a nucleoid antigen of Hep-2 retravirus. None of the antigens, revealed in mammary carcinomas and human milk seems to be either viral structural, or virus-induced cellular antigen. No cross-reactivity was revealed between preparations, containing A-type particles, isolated from Hep-2 cells and human milk and mammary carcinomas. Cell surface antigen, nonidentical to viral structural antigens, was detected in Hep-2 cells. It proved to be shared by E16b and some other stable cell lines, however it cannot be detected in mammary fibroadenomas, positive for the D-type nucleoid antigen, and in mammary carcinomas. Only gastric carcinoma homogenates exhibited reaction of identity with the cell surface antigen, shared by Hep-2 and E16b cells. It suggests that some common stem cells might be involved in its synthesis, rather than D-type retravirus genome. This question is worth a special investigation. The findings obtained show the genome of D-type retravirus is repressed in mammary carcinomas in contrast with fibroadenomas, when synthesis of nucleoid antigens was revealed by ILYIN [7].     

Direct Evidence for the Presence of Epstein-Barr Virus DNA and Nuclear Antigen in Malignant Epithelial Cells from Patients with Poorly Differentiated Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx

A well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and three poorly differentiated carcinomas of the nasopharynx were analyzed for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus DNA by hybridization with radioactive complementary RNA. The well-differentiated carcinoma contained no detectable Epstein-Barr virus DNA, whereas the three anaplastic carcinomas contained 41, 16, and 14 viral genome equivalents per cell. The anaplastic carcinomas were heavily infiltrated with lymphocytes and other non-neoplastic cells. All four tumors were successfully passaged in nude (thymusless) mice. Mouse cell admixture in the heterotransplanted tumors was estimated by analysis of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) and varied between 25% and 80%. After two passages in nude mice, the carcinoma that was negative for Epstein-Barr virus DNA remained negative, while the three anaplastic carcinomas retained their viral DNA. After correction for mouse cell admixture, the latter tumors were found to contain about 80, 55, and 160 Epstein-Barr virus genome equivalents per human cell. The virus-determined nuclear antigen was localized in the large carcinoma cell clusters in all three mouse-passaged tumors positive for the viral DNA, but other virus-determined antigens were not detected, indicating the absence of virus induction. In contrast to the original tumor biopsies, the nude-mouse-passaged tumors showed virtually no lymphocytic infiltration. It is concluded that the Epstein-Barr virus DNA found in biopsies of human nasopharyngeal carcinomas is localized in the neoplastic cells.     

Mutagenesis of the Ha-ras oncogene in mouse skin tumors induced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The importance of mutational activation of the Ha-ras protooncogene in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced mouse skin tumors was investigated in a complete carcinogenesis model using repetitive applications of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), or in an initiation-promotion model using a single application of dibenz[c,h]acridine (DB[c,h]ACR) or benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]BP) followed by chronic treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. DNA isolated from carcinomas induced by DMBA or DB[c,h]ACR, but not by B[a]P, efficiently transformed NIH 3T3 cells, and a high percentage of the transformed foci had an amplified Ha-ras gene. Restriction enzyme Southern blot analysis and DNA sequencing revealed that the amplified Ha-ras genes of the transformants had an A----T transversion in the second position of the 61st codon. The same mutation was also detected in primary tumor DNA in a high percentage of the DMBA- or DB[c,h]ACR-induced carcinomas. Identification of the mutation in NIH 3T3 cells transformed with DNA from DB[c,h]ACR-induced benign skin papillomas suggests that it is an early event in skin carcinogenesis. Thus, mutation of the 61st codon of the Ha-ras-1 gene appears to be a critical step in the formation of mouse skin tumors induced in both of the two models tested. Our analyses also delineate two other classes of hydrocarbon-induced carcinomas--namely, tumors whose DNAs efficiently transform 3T3 cells but do not contain mutated ras genes and tumors whose DNAs do not transform 3T3 cells.     

Transformation of rodent immortalized and embryo cells by oncogenes. I. Mouse (NIH 3T3) and rat (FR 3T3) immortalized fibroblasts

Immortalized mouse NIH 3T3 cells were transformed by gene transfer of DNA isolated from a human bladder tumor cell line and plasmids containing an activated human Ha-ras oncogene insert. For gene transfer the calcium-phosphate co-precipitation method was used. Transformation was evaluated by morphological focus formation, growth in soft agar and tumor development in nude mice. In addition, immortalized rat FR 3T3 cells were transformed by Ha-ras, too. The co-transfer of ras and myc oncogenes did not enhance focus formation in FR 3T3 cells.     

Fibroblast-mediated acceleration of human epithelial tumor growth in vivo.

Transformed fibroblasts coinoculated with epithelial cells accelerated the growth and shortened the latency period of human epithelial tumors in athymic mice. Addition of NbF-1 fibroblasts caused epithelial tumors to grow from five marginally tumorigenic or "nontumorigenic" (nontumor-forming) human tumor cell lines or strains: PC-3 (prostate), WH (bladder), MDA-436 (breast), and cells derived from the ascites fluids of patients with metastatic renal pelvic or prostate cancers. Evidence for the human and epithelial nature of these experimental tumors was provided by histologic, immunohistochemical, Southern and dot-blot hybridization, and cytogenetic analyses. Transformed fibroblasts induced predominantly carcinosarcomas, whereas nontumorigenic fibroblasts (NIH 3T3) and lethally irradiated transformed fibroblasts induced exclusively carcinomas. The fibroblast-epithelial interaction appears to occur bidirectionally and does not result from cell fusion. Because coculture experiments in vitro did not demonstrate an increased cell proliferation, it appears that undefined host factors can influence tumor growth. This tumor model may be useful in drug-screening programs and in mechanistic studies of factors regulating human tumor growth and progression.     

Animal experimental models of breast cancer for therapeutic testing of hormones and antihormones

Syngeneically and xenogeneically transplanted hormone-dependent mammary carcinomas were used for therapeutic in vivo estimation of the effect of hormones and antihormones. During the transplantation the majority of the tumors of the rat shows development from hormone dependence to hormone independence and, consequently, chemically induced (DMBA, NMU) mammary carcinomas have been the subject of considerable interest. Hormone-dependent mammary carcinomas of the mouse (MXT, estradiol- and progesterone-induced tumors and pregnancy-dependent mammary tumors of different mouse strains) are suitable for estimation of the effects of hormones. Xenogeneically transplanted hormone-dependent human tumors (B0 or T61, Br-10, SE, MCF-7, ZR75-1) are introduced in testing of hormones. During the transplantation of human mammary carcinomas in nude mice the hormone receptor status is preserved, and it is possible to perform endocrine treatments in models of human mammary carcinomas.     

Polymorphic expression of a human superficial bladder tumor antigen defined by mouse monoclonal antibodies.

Three mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which define a highly restricted antigen, were obtained by simultaneous immunizations with superficial papillary bladder tumor cells and mouse polyclonal serum against normal urothelium. The antigen was detected by the avidin/biotin/peroxidase method in 30/44 superficial bladder tumors (68%) but in only 4/27 infiltrating urothelial cancers (with much less intensity). No normal adult or fetal tissues tested expressed the antigen, including normal urothelium from 40 individuals, 13 of whom had a bladder tumor positive for the antigen. Only 1 of 45 nonbladder tumors showed some reactivity with one of the three mAbs. Serological tests on a large panel of human cancer cell lines and normal cultured cells were negative. The antigen is highly stable and well preserved on paraffin-embedded tissues. Electrophoretic transfer blot experiments with fresh tumor extracts showed that all three mAbs react with a determinant on a component of 300,000 Mr (pI 9.5) and 62,000 Mr (pI 6.5). The antigen shows polymorphic expression at the cellular level on tissue sections and also at a molecular level on immunoblots where the two bands are differentially detected on extracts of a series of tumors but are not visualized on normal urothelium extracts. The characteristics of this antigenic system suggest that it may provide some insights about the biology of bladder cancer. Specific detection of the antigen on 70% of superficial bladder tumors with normal cytology may be useful for their diagnosis and follow-up.     

Evaluation of the tumorigenic and angiogenic potential of human fibroblast growth factor FGF3 in nude mice

Recently, the expression of fibroblast growth factor 3 (FGF3) was found in 55% of human Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) tumor tissues examined, while almost no expression of FGF3 was found in normal skin. To further these studies, human FGF3 cDNA were constructed by the overlap-extension method. The proteins translated from two FGF3 cDNA, which differ only in the sequences preceding the AUG presumed to be the initiation codon, were shown to have the same molecular mass. This result suggests that translation of human FGF3, which is different from mouse FGF3, begins only at the AUG site. The human FGF cDNA was transfected into NIH3T3 cells. The NIH 3T3 cells transformed by FGF3 were then injected subcutaneously into athymic nude mice. Nodular lesions developed at the injection sites in all seven mice injected with the F3-1 cell clone, which showed high expression of FGF3, and in two out of six mice injected with the F3-2 cell clone, which expressed a low level of FGF3. Histopathological features of these tumors contained fascicles of spindle-shaped cells surrounding irregular endothelial lined vascular clefts, similar to those observed in human KS lesions. Immunohistochemical staining for factor V111 antigen revealed reactivity in multiple areas, especially in abundant vascular structures of the tumor sections examined. The expression of FGF3 together with the FGF receptors FGFR1, FGFR2, and FGFR3, was detected in the mouse tumors by Northern blot analysis. Our results indicate that tumors induced by FGF3-transformed NIH3T3 cells show some similarities to human KS tumors. In conclusion, our results demonstrate the potential tumorigenic and angiogenic role of human FGF3. Received: 8 April 1997 / Accepted: 24 November 1997