A2780 Xenograft Rat Model Service for Ovarian Cancer

The A2780 xenograft rat model provides a well-characterized platform for investigating epithelial ovarian carcinoma, leveraging a human endometrioid cell line with documented chemosensitivity that serves as a benchmark for evaluating platinum-based and novel therapeutic strategies. Alfa Cytology delivers precision-constructed A2780 xenograft rat studies calibrated to your ovarian cancer drug development needs, offering consistent tumor take rates, predictable growth kinetics, and comprehensive pharmacological assessments that drive informed preclinical decision-making from compound profiling through candidate advancement.

Overview of A2780 Xenograft Rat Model for Ovarian Cancer

The A2780 cell line was originally established from tumor tissue obtained from a 53-year-old female patient diagnosed with ovarian carcinoma that had metastasized to the omentum, prior to the patient receiving any chemotherapy. As one of the most widely utilized ovarian cancer cell lines in oncology research, A2780 has served as a foundational model for dissecting tumor neovascularization, chemoresistance mechanisms, and therapeutic target validation across hundreds of published investigations. When engrafted into immunodeficient rats, A2780 cells reliably form moderately differentiated epithelial tumors that retain the cisplatin-sensitive phenotype characteristic of the parental line, making this model particularly valuable for benchmarking novel agents against a platinum-responsive reference and for studying acquired resistance through derivative sublines such as A2780cis.

Fig 1. Differential expression of HSP27 and CPT1A in A2780CIS xenograft tumors. (Heiserman, James Patrick, et al., 2023)

Genetically, A2780 harbors activating mutations in PIK3CA and PTEN, reflecting aberrant PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway signaling that is frequently observed in endometrioid and clear-cell ovarian carcinoma subtypes. The cell line exhibits wild-type TP53 status, a feature that distinguishes it from the high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma paradigm where TP53 mutations are near-universal. In the rat xenograft setting, A2780 tumors typically establish within 10–14 days following subcutaneous inoculation and demonstrate robust, exponential growth kinetics amenable to standard caliper-based monitoring. The model's intrinsic sensitivity to cisplatin, paclitaxel, and docetaxel—combined with its capacity for peritoneal dissemination when introduced via intraperitoneal or intrabursal routes—renders it an exceptionally versatile asset for preclinical studies spanning cytotoxic chemotherapy evaluation, anti-angiogenic agent screening, and targeted therapy development.

Cell Line Information: A2780

The A2780 cell line stands as a cornerstone resource in ovarian cancer research, with a well-documented clinical provenance and extensively characterized molecular and phenotypic features. Its robust tumorigenicity in immunodeficient hosts, predictable drug response profile, and widespread availability through major biorepositories have cemented its status as a preferred model for preclinical ovarian carcinoma investigations. The following table summarizes the essential characteristics of the A2780 cell line.

Our Services

Alfa Cytology brings specialized expertise in gynecologic oncology preclinical model development, offering comprehensive A2780 xenograft rat model services that encompass study design, tumor implantation, longitudinal monitoring, and multi-modal endpoint characterization. We understand that each ovarian cancer therapeutic program presents unique analytical imperatives—whether your focus centers on platinum sensitivity profiling, anti-angiogenic agent evaluation, PARP inhibitor combination strategies, or acquired resistance mechanism interrogation—and we engineer every study protocol to yield reproducible, decision-quality data that advances your compound from early-stage characterization through late-phase candidate selection.

Workflow of A2780 Xenograft Rat Model Construction

Construction of a reproducible A2780 xenograft rat model requires meticulous coordination across cell culture, animal handling, surgical technique, and post-operative care to ensure consistent tumor take rates and valid pharmacological readouts. The workflow described below outlines the standardized protocol employed at Alfa Cytology for establishing reliable A2780 subcutaneous xenografts in immunodeficient rat hosts, with each phase optimized to minimize inter-animal variability and maximize translational relevance for ovarian cancer drug development.

1. Cell Preparation and Quality Control: A2780 cells are expanded under standardized adherent culture conditions and harvested during mid-logarithmic growth phase using trypsin-EDTA dissociation. Cell viability is assessed by trypan blue exclusion, with only preparations exceeding 95% viability accepted for inoculation. The cell suspension is washed twice in sterile PBS, counted, and adjusted to the target concentration—typically 5 × 10⁶ cells in 100–200 μL PBS—prior to inoculation.
2. Animal Selection and Acclimation: Immunodeficient nude rats (e.g., Hsd:Rh-rnu) aged 8–10 weeks are procured from accredited commercial breeders and housed for a minimum 7-day acclimation period within our AAALAC-accredited vivarium. Animals are maintained under controlled environmental conditions (12-hour light-dark cycle, 22 ± 2°C, 50–60% relative humidity) with free access to sterilized standard chow and autoclaved water. Body weights are recorded at arrival and at randomization.
3. Tumor Cell Inoculation: Rats are briefly anesthetized using isoflurane inhalation (2–3% in oxygen), and the right flank is shaved and sterilized with alternating povidone-iodine and 70% ethanol scrubs. A single-cell suspension of A2780 cells in 100–200 μL sterile PBS (with or without Matrigel matrix, per protocol specifications) is injected subcutaneously into the prepared site using a 25-gauge needle. Care is taken to deposit the inoculum within the subcutaneous space while avoiding intradermal or intramuscular placement. For studies modeling peritoneal dissemination, cells may alternatively be introduced via intraperitoneal injection. Animals are returned to their cages and monitored until fully ambulatory.
4. Tumor Monitoring and Measurement: Tumor appearance and growth are monitored by palpation beginning 7 days post-inoculation, with caliper measurements recorded twice weekly once tumors become palpable. Tumor volume is calculated using the modified ellipsoid formula (length × width² × 0.5). Body weights are recorded concurrently to assess treatment-related toxicity. Animals are examined daily for signs of distress, ulceration, or impaired mobility.
5. Treatment Initiation and Dosing: Once tumors reach the protocol-specified starting volume—commonly 100–200 mm³—animals are randomized into treatment and control cohorts using stratification by tumor volume to ensure inter-group balance. Test articles are administered via the designated route (oral gavage, intraperitoneal, intravenous, or subcutaneous) according to the sponsor-defined dosing schedule. Vehicle controls receive equivalent volumes of formulation buffer on an identical schedule.
6. Endpoint Assessment and Necropsy: Studies are terminated upon reaching protocol-defined endpoints, which may include maximal tumor burden (typically 2,000 mm³ or 10% of body weight), significant body weight loss (>20%), tumor ulceration, or deterioration in general condition. At termination, animals are humanely euthanized, and tumors are excised en bloc, weighed, photographed, and allocated for downstream analyses. Blood is collected via cardiac puncture for hematology, clinical chemistry, and pharmacokinetic profiling. Major organs—including ovaries, uterus, liver, spleen, kidneys, and lungs—are harvested, weighed, and preserved in 10% neutral buffered formalin for histopathological evaluation.
7. Histopathological and Molecular Analyses: Excised tumors are sectioned and processed for formalin-fixed paraffin embedding (FFPE), with additional portions snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen or stabilized in RNAlater for molecular analyses. Standard histopathological evaluation includes H&E staining for morphology, Ki-67 immunohistochemistry for proliferation index, CD31 staining for microvessel density, and TUNEL assay for apoptotic index. Supplementary analyses such as PI3K/Akt pathway activation status, platinum-DNA adduct quantification, and gene expression profiling are available upon request.

Fig 2. A2780 Xenograft Rat Model construction workflow.

Case Study-A2780 Xenograft Rat Model Development

In a recent preclinical engagement, Alfa Cytology established a subcutaneous A2780 xenograft cohort in nude rats to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of a novel PI3Kα-selective inhibitor administered as monotherapy and in combination with carboplatin. Following flank inoculation of 5 × 10⁶ A2780 cells, animals were randomized into vehicle control, single-agent, carboplatin-only, and combination treatment arms once mean tumor volumes reached approximately 150 mm³. The study incorporated twice-weekly tumor caliper measurements, serial body weight monitoring, and terminal analyses encompassing tumor growth inhibition calculations, Ki-67 proliferation index assessment, and phospho-Akt Western blot quantification. Pharmacokinetic blood sampling at multiple time points enabled correlation of plasma drug exposure with anti-tumor response, generating an integrated dataset that supported the sponsor's preclinical development milestone. All procedures were conducted under IACUC-approved protocols with full veterinary oversight.

Why Choose Alfa Cytology?

Selecting Alfa Cytology as your partner for A2780 xenograft rat model services means engaging a CRO that combines deep gynecologic oncology expertise with operational agility and an unwavering commitment to data integrity. Our integrated service model eliminates the friction of multi-vendor coordination, accelerating your path from study conception to actionable results.

• Dedicated gynecologic oncology model expertise with extensive experience in A2780 xenograft establishment, ensuring high tumor take rates and reproducible growth kinetics across study cohorts.
• In-house capability to leverage both the parental A2780 line and its resistant derivatives (A2780cis, A2780 ADR), enabling paired sensitivity-resistance studies within a single program.
• Flexible study architectures accommodating monotherapy efficacy, combination regimen evaluation, dose-escalation designs, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic integration tailored to your compound profile.
• Comprehensive biomarker and histopathology services spanning H&E, IHC, IF, digital image analysis, and molecular profiling, all performed within our integrated analytical laboratory.
• AAALAC-accredited vivarium facilities with IACUC-approved protocols, on-site veterinary staff, and stringent animal welfare standards that meet or exceed regulatory expectations.
• Proactive project management with transparent milestone tracking, regular data updates, and rapid responsiveness to protocol amendments or emerging findings.
• Competitive timelines from study initiation to final report delivery, supported by streamlined operational workflows and established relationships with certified animal vendors and reagent suppliers.

Contact Us

Whether you are advancing a novel platinum sensitizer, exploring PI3K pathway inhibition, or investigating anti-angiogenic strategies for ovarian cancer, Alfa Cytology stands ready to support your preclinical program with expertly executed A2780 xenograft rat model services. Contact us today to discuss your study objectives, review our capabilities deck, or request a customized proposal designed to generate the high-quality data your development pipeline requires.

For research use only. Not intended for any clinical use.