Daoy Cells

The Daoy cell line, established in 1985 by P.F. Jacobsen at the Royal Perth Hospital in Western Australia, is a human cell line derived from a medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor predominantly found in children. This cell line originated from a biopsy of a posterior fossa tumor in a 4-year-old boy. Medulloblastomas are typically located in the cerebellum, an area of the brain crucial for motor control and coordination, and are the most common malignant brain tumors in children.

Daoy cells are widely used as a model system for studying the biology of medulloblastoma, including tumor initiation, progression, and response to therapies. The cell line has been instrumental in medulloblastoma research, particularly in understanding the molecular and genetic basis of the disease, as well as in testing chemotherapeutic agents. The cells exhibit typical features of malignant medulloblastomas, including rapid growth rates and the ability to form tumors when transplanted into immunocompromised mice. Research using the Daoy cell line has contributed to the development of potential new treatments and therapeutic targets for medulloblastoma.