TUMORIGENESIS AND METASTASIS OF NEOPLASTIC KAPOSIS-SARCOMA CELL-LINE IN IMMUNODEFICIENT MICE BLOCKED BY A HUMAN-PREGNANCY HORMONE

KAPOSI's sarcoma (KS) occurs more often in men than in women and HIV-1-associated KS has a high occurrence in homosexual men (over 30%). Most cultures of KS tumours yield cells with properties of hyperplastic (not malignant) endothelial cells under the control of several cytokines(1-7). The role of HIV-1 may be in promoting high levels of some cytokines and providing stimulation to angiogenesis by the HIV-1 Tat protein(8), which synergizes with basic fibroblast growth factor in promoting these effects(9), Here,ve describe an immortalized AIDS-KS cell line (KS Y-1) and show that these cells produce malignant metastatic tumours in nude mice and are killed in vitro and in vivo (apparently by apoptosis) by a pregnancy hormone, the beta-chain of human chorionic gonadotropin. Similarly, chorionic gonadotropin kills KS SLK, cells from another neoplastic cell line (established from a non-HIV-associated KS)(10), as well as the hyperplastic KS cells from clinical specimens grown in short-term culture, but does not kill normal endothelial cells, These results provide evidence that KS can evolve into a malignancy and have implications for the hormonal treatment of this tumour.