MFC Cells

The Mouse Forestomach Carcinoma (MFC) cell line is an invaluable tool in cancer research, particularly in the study of tumor metastasis. This cell line was established in vitro and has been subcultured for over 132 passages. MFC cells are characterized by their lack of contact inhibition and display a variety of morphologies, including round, polygonal, and spindle shapes. Ultrastructurally, MFC cells exhibit abundant microvilli on their surfaces and extensive filopodia in the cytoplasm. The nuclei of these cells are irregularly shaped with an increased nucleus-cytoplasm ratio. Additionally, desmosomes, hemidesmosomes, and a small number of tonofibrils are present.
The MFC cell line has a population doubling time of 24.7 hours, with an average mitotic index of 32.9%, reaching up to a maximum of 62% with a modal range of 70-76. The homotransplant efficiency of these cells is 100%, indicating their high viability and consistency in experimental settings. Tumors induced by MFC cells are morphologically similar to the original forestomach carcinoma from which they were derived, with 81.8% of induced tumors spontaneously metastasizing to the lungs. This high propensity for blood-borne lung metastasis makes the MFC cell line particularly useful for studying the mechanisms of tumor metastasis and for testing experimental treatments. The retention of the primary tumor’s metastatic features underscores the relevance of this cell line in ongoing cancer research.