Calu-6

The Calu-6 cell line is a human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell line derived from the pleural effusion of a 61-year-old male patient. Established in 1975, this cell line has been a critical model in lung cancer research. Calu-6 cells exhibit a distinct epithelial morphology and have been used extensively to study the biology of lung cancer, including mechanisms of metastasis, drug resistance, and the tumor microenvironment. These cells are particularly noted for their ability to form tumors in xenograft models, which makes them highly valuable for in vivo studies of tumor growth and response to therapeutics.

Calu-6 is characterized by a high level of KRAS mutation, common in NSCLC, and provides a relevant model for studying the role of this oncogene in lung cancer. The cell line also displays several cytogenetic anomalies typical of cancer cells, such as complex karyotypes and aneuploidy, which contribute to its use in genetic studies. Research utilizing the Calu-6 cell line has helped in understanding the cellular mechanisms of lung cancer and in the development of therapeutic strategies. Its robust growth in culture and the ability to mimic clinical aspects of lung cancer make it an indispensable resource in oncological research.

37°C, 5% CO₂, humidified atmosphere.

1. Confirm that the vial remains deeply frozen upon delivery, as cells are shipped on dry ice to maintain optimal temperatures during transit.

2. Upon receipt, either store the cryovial immediately at temperatures below -150°C to ensure the preservation of cellular integrity, or proceed to step 3 if immediate culturing is required.

3. For immediate culturing, swiftly thaw the vial by immersing it in a 37°C water bath with clean water and an antimicrobial agent, agitating gently for 40-60 seconds until a small ice clump remains.

4. Perform all subsequent steps under sterile conditions in a flow hood, disinfecting the cryovial with 70% ethanol before opening.

5. Carefully open the disinfected vial and transfer the cell suspension into a 15 ml centrifuge tube containing 8 ml of room-temperature culture medium, mixing gently.

6. Centrifuge the mixture at 300 x g for 3 minutes to separate the cells and carefully discard the supernatant containing residual freezing medium.

7. Gently resuspend the cell pellet in 10 ml of fresh culture medium. For adherent cells, divide the suspension between two T25 culture flasks; for suspension cultures, transfer all the medium into one T25 flask to promote effective cell interaction and growth.

8. Adhere to established subculture protocols for continued growth and maintenance of the cell line, ensuring reliable experimental outcomes.

Mycoplasma contamination is excluded using both PCR-based assays and luminescence-based mycoplasma detection methods.

To ensure there is no bacterial, fungal, or yeast contamination, cell cultures are subjected to daily visual inspections.

For long-term preservation, place vials in vapor-phase liquid nitrogen at about −150 to −196 °C. Storage at −80 °C is acceptable only as a short interim step before transfer to liquid nitrogen.

Cryopreserved cell lines are shipped on dry ice in validated, insulated packaging with sufficient refrigerant to maintain approximately −78 °C throughout transit. On receipt, inspect the container immediately and transfer vials without delay to appropriate storage.

At Cytion, we stand behind the quality and viability of our products. We guarantee that our cells will be viable at the start of culture for 60 days after shipment from our facilities. We assure that all materials conform to the specifications described in the Certificate of Analysis and/or Product Sheet.

For full details, please refer to our Warranty Statement.