FO-1 (MEL-CLS-1) Cells

The FO-1 cell line, also known as MEL-CLS-1, is a human amelanotic melanoma line derived from a metastatic site, specifically the iliac lymph node of a Caucasian patient. This cell line was established from a xenograft, further ensuring its utility in research focused on metastatic melanoma. Amelanotic melanoma, from which FO-1 originates, is characterized by the absence of melanin pigment, making it particularly valuable for studying melanoma subtypes that lack the typical pigmentation associated with these tumors.

The FO-1 cell line exhibits a doubling time of approximately 38 hours, particularly noted at the 49th passage. This relatively fast growth rate makes it suitable for experiments requiring rapid cell proliferation. FO-1 cells are known for their differential sensitivity to various treatments, including their responsiveness to the differentiating and antiproliferative effects of interferon-beta (IFN-β) and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), making them a critical model for studying the modulation of melanoma-associated antigens and HLA antigen expression under various experimental conditions.