C-33 A Cells

C-33 A cells originate from the cervical tissue of a 66-year-old Caucasian female diagnosed with uterine cancer. This cell line is characterized by a unique genetic alteration in the TP53 gene, where a point mutation at codon 273 results in an arginine to cysteine substitution, leading to elevated expression of the p53 protein. This mutation plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of the cells, influencing their growth properties and tumorigenic potential.

Notably, C-33 A cells are confirmed to be tumorigenic. When introduced into immunodeficient nude mice, these cells have the capability to form undifferentiated carcinomas, which highlights their utility in cancer research, particularly in studies aimed at understanding the mechanisms of tumor initiation and progression in cervical cancer. Furthermore, these cells are negative for both DNA and RNA of human papillomavirus (HPV), distinguishing them from many other cervical cancer cell lines which often carry HPV integrations. This aspect makes C-33 A cells particularly valuable for studying cervical cancer that develops independently of HPV infection, offering insights into alternative pathways of carcinogenesis.