HCT-8

HCT-8 cells, also known as human ileocecal colorectal adenocarcinoma cells, are an epithelial cell line originally derived from a 67-year-old Caucasian male patient with ileocecal adenocarcinoma. The HCT-8 cell line was established in the late 1960s and is widely utilized in cancer research, particularly in the study of colorectal cancer pathogenesis, metastasis, and treatment response.

Morphologically, HCT-8 cells are epithelial-like and exhibit a monolayer growth pattern with a polygonal shape. They possess the capability to grow in both adherent and semi-suspended cultures, which is characteristic of some transitional stages of cancer cell metastasis. This feature makes them particularly useful for studies related to cancer cell invasion and migration.

Genotypically, HCT-8 cells are hypertriploid, containing several chromosomal aberrations common in colorectal carcinomas, including mutations and deletions which are relevant to cancer progression and resistance mechanisms. This genetic profile supports their use in oncological studies, especially those focusing on genetic pathways involved in tumorigenesis and drug resistance.

Research utilizing HCT-8 cells has contributed significantly to the understanding of colorectal cancer biology, including the elucidation of molecular pathways involved in cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, and chemoresistance. The cell line continues to be a critical model for investigating the efficacy of new therapeutic agents and for exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying colorectal cancer.

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.