SW-403 Cells

SW-403 is a human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line derived from a poorly differentiated tumor. It has been widely used in research on colorectal cancer, particularly in studies investigating the effects of gastrointestinal hormones on tumor growth. Notably, SW-403 cells have been shown to respond to gastrin and pentagastrin, two gastrointestinal hormones, by increasing their proliferation. These hormones stimulate growth through the gastrin receptor, which is expressed in some colorectal cancers. In contrast, treatment with proglumide, a gastrin receptor antagonist, inhibits the growth of SW-403 cells both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that gastrin may play a role in promoting tumor growth in this cell line.
In addition to hormone studies, SW-403 cells have been used to investigate the effects of various chemotherapy agents, such as ciprofloxacin, on cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. Ciprofloxacin has been shown to inhibit DNA synthesis in SW-403 cells and induce apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. This process involves mitochondrial membrane breakdown, activation of caspases 3, 8, and 9, and upregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins like Bax. The ability of ciprofloxacin to trigger apoptosis in SW-403 cells suggests its potential as an adjunctive therapeutic agent in colorectal cancer treatment.
Overall, SW-403 serves as a useful model for exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying colorectal cancer growth, hormone sensitivity, and chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Its response to gastrointestinal hormones like gastrin and to chemotherapeutic agents highlights its relevance in both basic cancer biology and drug development research.