Cancer cell lines are immortalized cell populations derived from cancerous tissues or tumors. These cell lines have been adapted to grow continuously in vitro under controlled laboratory conditions. Cancer cell lines are widely used as model systems in cancer research, drug discovery, and other biomedical applications, as they offer a valuable resource for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development, progression, and treatment response.
Cancer cell lines exhibit many characteristics of the original tumor, such as the expression of specific oncogenes, activation of growth-promoting signaling pathways, and resistance to apoptosis. However, it is important to note that cancer cell lines can also acquire additional genetic and phenotypic changes during the process of immortalization and adaptation to in vitro growth. Therefore, it is essential to consider the potential limitations of using cancer cell lines as a model system and to validate the findings with other experimental approaches, such as in vivo models or primary tumor samples.
There are many established cancer cell lines representing various types of cancer, including but not limited to:
- HeLa: Derived from cervical cancer, HeLa is one of the oldest and most widely used cancer cell lines. It was established in 1951 from the tumor of a patient named Henrietta Lacks.
- MCF-7: Derived from breast cancer, MCF-7 is an estrogen receptor-positive cell line commonly used to study hormone-responsive breast cancers.
- A549: Derived from non-small cell lung cancer, A549 is often used as a model for studying lung cancer biology and drug response.
- PC-3 and LNCaP: Both derived from prostate cancer, PC-3 and LNCaP are commonly used to study the molecular mechanisms underlying prostate cancer development and progression.
- U87 and U251: Derived from glioblastoma, these cell lines are widely used in brain cancer research to study the biology of glioblastoma and test novel therapeutic strategies.
- HCT116: Derived from colorectal cancer, HCT116 is commonly used to study the molecular mechanisms underlying colorectal cancer development and drug response.
- SK-OV-3: Derived from ovarian cancer, SK-OV-3 is used to study the biology of ovarian cancer and identify potential therapeutic targets.
- K562: Derived from chronic myeloid leukemia, K562 is used to study the molecular mechanisms underlying leukemia development and to screen potential therapeutic agents.
Cancer cell lines provide a valuable and widely accessible resource for studying the complex biology of cancer and for screening potential anti-cancer drugs. However, it is essential to consider the inherent limitations of using cancer cell lines as a model system and to complement these studies with additional experimental approaches.