SNU-216 Cells

The SNU-216 cell line is a human gastric carcinoma model derived from a metastatic lymph node of a patient with moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. This cell line is part of a panel of gastric carcinoma models established to study gastric cancer biology, particularly in the context of tumor antigen expression, genetic mutations, and therapeutic responses. SNU-216 cells exhibit an adherent growth pattern in culture, forming a heterogeneous diffuse monolayer with round-oval cellular morphology and a low nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio.

Genetic analyses have revealed significant mutations in the SNU-216 cell line, including alterations in the TP53 gene. Specifically, a mutation in exon 6 has been identified, which likely impacts its tumor suppressor functions. Additionally, tumor antigen studies have shown that SNU-216 expresses high levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), with no detectable alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). These features make the cell line a valuable tool for studying the molecular and genetic characteristics of gastric cancer and for exploring diagnostic and therapeutic applications related to tumor markers.

SNU-216 has also been included in the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), providing extensive genomic, transcriptomic, and pharmacological data. The cell line’s molecular profile has been utilized to predict sensitivities to targeted therapies and to investigate pathways such as those involving receptor tyrosine kinases and PI3K signaling. Its inclusion in this resource underlines its importance as a preclinical model for gastric cancer research and drug development.