We investigated the three-dimensional outgrowth of human ameloblastoma cells cultured in collagen matrix. Growth patterns of four cases of ameloblastoma resembled each other and was characterized by appeared duct-like structures. Case 1 ameloblastoma was subcultured 3 times. Ameloblastoma tissues and cultured cells were stained with various lectins by avidin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) staining methods. Both the tissues and cultured cells had the same receptors to Concanavalin ensiforme (Con A), Ricinus communis Agglutinin (RCA-I) and Triticum vulgaris (WGA) but not to Dolichos biflorus (DBA), Ulex europaeus (UEA-1), Soybean (SBA) and Arachis hypogea (PNA). These findings indicated that the cultured cells examined in this study were ameloblastoma cells in origin.

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