NCI-H1781

The NCI-H1781 cell line is a human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) model derived from a lung adenocarcinoma. This cell line is particularly noteworthy for harboring the ERBB2 (HER2) G776insV_G/C mutation, an in-frame insertion in exon 20 that is functionally activating. Such mutations are known drivers in a subset of lung cancers and make NCI-H1781 a useful model for studying HER2-targeted therapies and resistance mechanisms. The ERBB2 mutation in NCI-H1781 contributes to constitutive kinase activation and downstream signaling via pathways such as PI3K/AKT and MAPK, thereby supporting cell proliferation and survival independently of external growth factors.

In molecular profiling studies, NCI-H1781 demonstrates elevated levels of ERBB2 transcript and protein, consistent with its genetic alteration. Additionally, this cell line is often employed in pharmacogenomic investigations, as its sensitivity to HER2 inhibitors such as lapatinib or afatinib can vary depending on cellular context and combinatorial targeting strategies. It also exhibits resistance to EGFR inhibitors, which distinguishes it from EGFR-mutant lung cancer models and underscores the therapeutic relevance of HER2-specific targeting. Given its well-characterized genetic background and robust growth properties in vitro, NCI-H1781 serves as a reliable preclinical model for testing HER2-targeted compounds and exploring mechanisms of therapeutic resistance in lung adenocarcinoma.

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.