Objective  To obtain anoikis-resistant cells from human osteosarcoma cell line hFOB1.19 and investigate its biological characteristics.   Methods  The osteosarcoma cell line we used was malignant transformed immortalized human fetal osteoblastic human cells (hFOB1.19) which was transformed in our lab (called transformant in this paper). We have used anti-adhesion cell culture method to mimic detachment of tumor cells from extracellular matrix (ECM) to obtain anoikis-resistant variants. Transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy were used to observe the morphological changes

flow cytometry was used to observe the apoptotic rate. The growth characteristic was observed by MTT. The migration characteristics was examined by transwell cell culture system.   Results  Typical apoptotic cells were seen after de-adhesion culture. The apoptotic rate of the transformant at 24

48 and 72 h showed a gradually increasing tendency. The apoptotic rate of anoikis-resistant cells was lower than that of the transformant at the same time point. Compared with the transformant

the anoikis-resistant variants had stronger ability in proliferation and in migration with statistical significance (P0.05).   Conclusion  After 14 days’de-adhesion culture

we obtain the anoikis-resistant variant cells of osteosarcoma cells

which have higher ability in proliferation and migration.