42-MG-BA

The 42-MG-BA cell line is a continuous human glioblastoma (GBM) line established from the surgical specimen of a 67-year-old male patient with primary, treatment-naïve WHO grade IV glioma. Because the tumor was resected prior to any radio- or chemotherapy, the cell line preserves the native genomic landscape of primary GBM, free from therapy-induced artifacts. This makes it a particularly authentic model for dissecting de novo gliomagenesis and intrinsic therapeutic resistance.

A key molecular hallmark of 42-MG-BA is a homozygous missense mutation in TP53 at codon 273 (R273H), one of the most frequent gain-of-function hotspot mutations in human cancer. Importantly, the cells harbor wild-type IDH1/2 and lack EGFR amplification, defining a distinct molecular subset of classical GBM. They exhibit spindle-shaped, adherent morphology with robust expression of the glial markers GFAP and vimentin, confirming astrocytic lineage fidelity. When implanted orthotopically into immunodeficient mice, 42-MG-BA forms highly invasive, diffusely infiltrating tumors that faithfully recapitulate the histological hallmarks of human GBM, including perivascular pseudorosettes, microvascular proliferation, and zones of necrosis.

The stable phenotype and well-defined genetic background of 42-MG-BA ensure high experimental reproducibility. Combined with its ability to generate aggressive in vivo tumors, this line serves as an invaluable platform for studying p53 gain-of-function biology, mechanisms of diffuse brain invasion, tumor-stroma interactions, and for preclinical evaluation of anti-invasive and anti-glioma therapies.