Background: To explore the intracranial behaviors of glioma, a three-dimensional culture was devised and the morphology of four cell lines was examined.
Materials and methods: Bioabsorbable and degradable gelatin was used as the scaffold and T98G, A172, KNS42, and U118MG representative standard malignant glioma cell lines were cultured three-dimensionally.
Results: When grown, the cells demonstrated characteristic conformations. The U118MG cells dispersed with numerous fiber formations. In contrast, the KNS42 and A172 cells aggregated, adhering to each other, resulting in the formation of balloon-like structures. The T98G cells demonstrated an intermediate character.
Conclusion: The cell lines showed distinct characteristics in three-dimensional culture. This culture method may have a role in elucidating the fundamental character of cells in the human body.