Establishment of a novel human cell line retaining the characteristics of the original pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and evaluation of MEK as a therapeutic target

Establishment and characterization of the PDAC-X3 cell line: a novel Chinese-origin pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line

In this study, a novel pancreatic cancer cell line, termed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)-X3 cell line, was successfully derived from the primary tumor. Comprehensive analyses of its malignant phenotype, molecular properties, specific biomarkers, and histological features confirmed that PDAC-X3 cells serve as a valuable model for investigating the underlying mechanisms driving pancreatic carcinogenesis and advancing potential therapeutic strategies. The newly established cell line was continuously cultured for over 12 months and was stably passaged through more than 50 generations. Morphologically, PDAC-X3 cells displayed characteristics typical of epithelial tumors. The population doubling time for PDAC-X3 cells was determined to be 50 h. Karyotype analysis revealed that 75% of PDAC-X3 cells presented as hypotriploid, while 25% were sub-tetraploid, with representative karyotypes being 53 and XY der (1) inv (9) der (22). In suspension culture, PDAC-X3 cells efficiently formed organoids. Upon inoculation into BALB/C nude mice, these cells initiated the development of xenograft tumors, achieving a tumor formation rate of 33%. Morphologically, these xenografted tumors closely resembled the primary tumor. Drug sensitivity assays indicated that PDAC-X3 cells exhibited resistance to oxaliplatin but demonstrated sensitivity to 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), gemcitabine, and paclitaxel. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that CK7, CK19, E-cadherin, Vimentin, CA19-9 were positively expressed in PDAC-X3 cells. Meanwhile, the expression rate for Ki-67 was 30%, and that for CEA was not detected. Our findings underscore that PDAC-X3 represents a novel pancreatic cancer cell line, positioning it as a valuable model for basic research and the advancement of therapeutic strategies against pancreatic cancer.

Characteristics of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell Lines reflect human tumor biology independent of primary etiologies and HPV status

Explanations for the differences in clinical outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) when compared by similar tumor location, stage, nodal status, human papillomavirus (HPV) status, and patient history remain elusive. Cell lines are an excellent tool of study for understanding the in vitro properties of cancers. However, HNSCC cell lines from progression-free and/or HPV-positive tumors are very rare. Here we studied HPV-positive and HPV-negative University of Michigan squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (2 HPV−, 2 HPV16+, 1 HPV18+) coming from donors with nonoropharyngeal sites and variant clinical outcomes. Cell morphology and proliferation were assessed, and immunofluorescence and Western blotting evaluated tumor biomarkers (TP53, RB1, p16, HPV E6 and E7, EGFR, Cyclin D1, Ki-67, and beta-catenin). Slow in vitro proliferation, long lag phase before exponential proliferation, lower maximal cell density, and higher wild-type TP53 expression were common to cell lines from patients who experienced long-term disease-free survival. In contrast, shorter lag phases, rapid proliferation, and high maximal cell density were observed in cell lines from patients who experienced aggressive tumor progression leading to death. Membrane-bound beta-catenin was present in all cell lines, but nuclear beta-catenin was associated with the more lethal cancers. In summary, the HNSCC cell lines present key characteristics, independent of primary etiologies and HPV infection, that mirror the behavior of the tumors from which they were derived.