HCI-EC-23 Human Endometrial Cancer Cell Line

Endometrial cancer, a sub-type of uterine cancer, affects the inner lining of the uterus also known as the endometrium. Endometrial cancer is categorized into two primary subtypes, Type I and Type II. Type I tumors are typically characterized by their high levels of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). These tumors are also thought to be driven by excessive estrogen signaling. Type II endometrial tumors are considered to be hormone-independent and may have a mixed histological background.

A variety of cell lines have been created from Type I tumors such as Ishikawa cells. However, many of these cell lines have lost ERα expression and estrogen response. The limited availability of ERα expressing endometrial cell lines limits the variety of genetic backgrounds for understanding endometrial cancer. Patient derived xenografts (PDX) have increased the capability to produce hormone-responsive models but lack some of the benefits of a cell line model.

The HCI-EC-23 human endometrial cancer cell line was derived by generating a PDX cell line in a mouse model. Cells from an endometrial carcinoma sample were injected into immunodeficient mice and grown in the mouse model before being harvested. PDX samples were dissociated, grown on collagen coated plates and selected for predominantly human (99%) cells which became the HCI-EC-23 cell line. These cells retain ER expression and estrogen-responsiveness in vitro and in vivo. The cell line contains important mutations relevant to endometrial carcinomas including mutations at PTEN, PIK3CA, ARID1A, CTCF, and ATM, but remains wild-type for PIK3R1, CTNNB1, KRAS and TP53. Progesterone receptor genes and estrogen receptor genes also remain wild-type.

Estrogen responsiveness was tested in the HCI-EC-23 cell line by transfecting cells with a luciferase reporter under control of tandem estrogen response elements and treating cells with E2. HCI-EC-23 cells also showed estrogen responsiveness to 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen (4OHT) treatment which is consistent with observations of endometrial response.

Source: Primary tumor was obtained from a 66-year old woman diagnosed with Grade 2 Stage 1A endometrioid endometrial carcinoma which was later cloned into a mouse PDX model. A predominantly human (99%) cell outgrowth was used to derive the HCI-EC-23 human endometrial cancer cell line.

References
1. Rush, C.M., Blanchard, Z., Polaski, J.T. et al. Characterization of HCI-EC-23 a novel estrogen- and progesterone-responsive endometrial cancer cell line. Sci Rep 12, 19731 (2022).

HCI-EC-23 is an estrogen and progesterone responsive cell line that can be used to study the hormonal aspects of endometrial cancer.

HCI-EC-23 cells should be stored in liquid nitrogen. The cells can be cultured for at least 10 passages without significantly affecting cell marker expression and function.

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