SW-620 Cells - Influence on Colon Cancer Research and Experimentation
SW-620 cells constitute the human colorectal cancer cell line of Dukes stage C. They possess high tumorigenic and metastatic potential. Therefore, they are widely employed in cancer and toxicology studies. This article will explore the fundamental aspects of the colon cancer cell line SW-620.
Origin and general characteristics of the SW-620 cells
The origin and general characteristics are the prime information about a cell line. Prior knowledge of this is essential for researchers who consider involving it in their research study. This section of the article will explain the key features and origin of the SW-620 cell line. Mainly, you will learn: What is the SW620 cell line? What are the characteristics of the SW620 cell line? What is the origin of SW620? What is SW-640 cell size? And What is the difference between SW620 and SW480?
- SW-620, a colorectal carcinoma cell line, originated from the mediatized lymph node lesion of a 51-year-old Caucasian male with colon adenocarcinoma [1]. This cell line was deposited by A Leibovitz and colleagues.
- SW-620 cells possess an epithelial morphology. It also consists of small round and bipolar cells that match microvilli.
- The SW-620 cell size is 14.4 ± 0.3 μm in diameter.
- These colon cancer cells possess a hyperdiploid karyotype. The modal chromosome number for SW-620 cells is 50, which may vary from 45 to 53.
SW-480 Vs SW-620
SW480 and SW620 are colorectal cancer cell lines. SW-480 was derived from a primary tumour, whereas SW-620 was established from a metastasized lymph node. Moreover, xenografts developed from these cell lines differ from each other. SW620 xenografts produce tumour cell sheets, whereas SW480 xenograft form gland-like structures [2]. Both cell lines share identical mutation profiles.
SW-620 Cells: Culturing information
Grasping a cell line's basic cell culturing concept is imperative as it can lead to appropriate handling and maintenance. Some key points for culturing SW-620 are mentioned in this section that can help you know: What is the SW-620 media? What is the doubling time of SW-620? How do you culture SW-620 cells?
Key Points for Culturing SW-620 Cells
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Doubling Time: |
The SW-620 doubling time ranges from 20 to 26 hours. |
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Adherent or in Suspension: |
SW-620 cell line is adherent. The cells form monolayers on the surface of the culture vessel. |
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Sub-cultivation Ratio: |
SW-620 cells are sub-cultured at a split ratio of 1: 3. Adherent cells are rinsed with phosphate saline buffer (1X) without magnesium and calcium. Next, passaging solution, Accutase, is added, and cells are incubated at ambient temperature for 8 to 10 minutes. Fresh media is added, and cells are centrifuged. Afterwards, harvested cells are carefully resuspended in a growth medium and dispensed into new flasks for growth. |
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Growth Medium: |
DMEM media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 4.5 g/L Glucose, 4 mM L-Glutamine, 1.5 g/L NaHCO3, and 1.0 mM Sodium pyruvate is used for the ideal growth of SW-620 cells. Media should be renewed two times per week. |
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Growth Conditions: |
SW-620 colon carcinoma cells are cultured in a humidified incubator at 37°C temperature and with 5% CO2. |
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Storage: |
After freezing, SW-620 cells are stored at below -150°C temperature in ultra-low temperature freezers or the vapour phase of liquid nitrogen. |
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Freezing Process and Medium: |
CM-1 or CM-ACF is an ideal freezing medium for SW-620 cells. A slow freezing process is used to freeze SW-620 cells. It allows only a 1°C decrease in temperature per minute, thus protecting the cell viability. |
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Thawing Process: |
Frozen SW-620 cells are thawed in a water bath pre-set at 37°C for 40 to 60 seconds. After thawing, culture media is added, and cells are centrifuged to remove freezing media elements. After that, the obtained cell pellet is resuspended in a growth medium, and cells are poured into a new flask for growth. |
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Biosafety Level: |
A biosafety level 1 (BSL-1) laboratory is required for the handling of SW-620 cultures. |
Advantages of SW-620 Cells
Advantages
- Modeling Colon Carcinoma: SW-620 cells serve as a critical model for colon carcinoma, allowing for in-depth study of tumor and metastasis mechanisms, particularly in xenograft models.
- Cancer Research and Therapeutics: These cells facilitate the exploration of cancer biology, chemotherapeutic efficacy, and mechanisms of cell death, including anoikis.
- CD133 Expression: The expression of CD133 in SW-620 cells provides insights into cancer stem cell biology and its implications for tumorigenesis and therapy resistance.
- Flow Cytometry Applications: Flow cytometry analysis on these cells enables the assessment of cell populations, apoptosis levels, and proliferation.
Research applications of SW-620 cell line
The research areas where SW-620 cells find promising utility are discussed below:
- Cancer research: SW-620 is an invaluable cell model to study the biology of colorectal cancer. Researchers employ this in vitro model to explore molecular mechanisms driving cancer cell growth, invasion, and migration. Besides, it can be used to study SW620 cell line mutations, i.e., p53, APC, and KRAS. Research conducted in 2021 examined the effect of SW620 cell line KRAS mutation on the sensitivity of a novel drug FL118. They observed that over-expression of KRAS increases the FL118-induced apoptosis of colorectal cells, whereas its silencing decreases it. These results may help predict FL118 use in colon carcinoma patients with KRAS mutation [3].
- Drug Screening and Development: SW-620 cell line is widely used to screen and test potential drug candidates against colon cancer. Researchers utilize these cells to evaluate the cytotoxicity and efficacy of drugs which may lead to the development of targeted treatment approaches. Such as a study explored the anti-colorectal cancer activities of single essential oil compounds of cinnamon and clove using the SW-620 cell line [4].
- Metastasis studies: Due to high metastatic potential, SW-620 cells can be used to investigate molecular pathways underlying cancer cell metastasis. Such as Zhou Yang and his colleagues found the role of the Grainy-head-like 2 (GRHL2) gene in colon cancer progression and metastasis. They proposed that GRHL2 gene expression inhibits colorectal cancer progression and metastasis via suppression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) [5].
Secure Your SW620 Cell Line
SW-620 cells: Publications
This section will dig out some interesting and most cited research publications on the SW-620 cells.
This study published in Molecular Carcinogenesis (2017) proposed that a polyphenol, urolithin A’s treatment, induces autophagy in the colorectal cancer cell line, SW620. It also suppressed cancer cell metastasis.
This article in Oncology Letters (2018) explored the anti-metastatic potential of tetrandrine, a bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, using SW-620 cells.
This paper is published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (2018). It proposed that CDCA3 (Cell division cycle associated 3) gene is upregulated in colorectal cancer cells and promotes their proliferation via activating NF-κB signalling.
The International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2021) study investigated the synergistic effect of a bispecific antibody (ABL001) and chemotherapeutic drugs on tumour progression in SW620 xenograft.
This article is published in the Cells (2018). Herein, Bacopa monnieri, Bacopaside II extract was explored for its antitumor activities in SW-620 and other colorectal cancer cells.
Resources for SW-620 cell line: Protocols, Videos, and More
The following are a few online resources featuring the SW-620 colon carcinoma cells.
- SW-620 transfection: This article briefly describes the protocol for stable transfection of the SW-620 cell line.
The following link contains the SW620 cell culture protocol.
- SW-620 cell culture protocol: This link will provide basic information about the SW-620 cell line. It will also assist you in learning the protocol for subculturing SW-620 cells and handling cryopreserved and proliferating SW620 cultures.
- Cell culture protocols: This video is a great source for learning adherent cell passaging, freezing, and thawing protocols.
Frequently Asked Questions About SW620 Cells
SW620 cells are human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells obtained from the lymph node metastasis of a patient with colon cancer, making them significant for cancer research.
SW620 cells generally have a diameter ranging from 15 to 30 micrometers, although this can vary based on culture conditions.
SW620 cells exhibit several mutations, including in the TP53 gene. These mutations can affect cell morphology, leading to diverse shapes and sizes within the population.
SW620 and SW480 cells are both derived from colon adenocarcinomas, but SW620 cells come from a metastatic site, while SW480 cells originate from the primary tumor. This difference can affect their genetic makeup, behavior in culture, and response to treatments.
SW620 cells are instrumental in studying tumorigenesis, especially due to their ability to form tumors in xenograft mouse models and their expression of cancer stem cell markers like CD133.
Yes, SW620 cells are used to study cell death pathways, including apoptosis and anoikis, as they respond to various cancer therapeutics and environmental conditions.
The high metastatic potential of SW620 cells and their origin from a metastatic lymph node make them a relevant model for studying the spread of colon cancer.
Flow cytometry allows researchers to analyze the properties of SW620 cells, including CD133 expression patterns and the extent of apoptosis or sensitivity to anoikis.
SW620 cells have a high tumorigenic potential when introduced into immunodeficient xenograft mouse models, making them valuable for in vivo studies of cancer progression.
References
- Siekmann, W., et al., Effect of lidocaine and ropivacaine on primary (SW480) and metastatic (SW620) colon cancer cell lines. Oncol Lett, 2019. 18(1): p. 395-401.
- Hewitt, R.E., et al., Validation of a model of colon cancer progression. J Pathol, 2000. 192(4): p. 446-54.
- Thangaiyan, R., et al., Kras mutation subtypes distinctly affect colorectal cancer cell sensitivity to FL118, a novel inhibitor of survivin, Mcl-1, XIAP, cIAP2 and MdmX. American Journal of Translational Research, 2021. 13(7): p. 7458.
- Petrocelli, G., et al., Molecules present in plant essential oils for prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Molecules, 2021. 26(4): p. 885.
- Yang, Z., et al., GRHL2 inhibits colorectal cancer progression and metastasis via oppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Cancer biology & therapy, 2019. 20(9): p. 1195-1205.