NCI-H1975 Metastatic Tumor Model Service for Lung Cancer

The NCI-H1975 Metastatic Tumor Model Service for Lung Cancer delivers a rigorously controlled in vivo platform for studying the seeding, colonization, and organ-specific progression of EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma in immunocompromised mice. As a preclinical CRO devoted to oncology pharmacology, Alfa Cytology engineers and manages every stage of the NCI-H1975 metastatic program — from authenticated cell preparation and reporter labeling to systemic inoculation, longitudinal bioluminescence tracking, and metastatic burden quantification — providing your team with a dependable, decision-ready in vivo system for interrogating metastasis and therapeutic response.

Overview of NCI-H1975 Metastatic Tumor Model for Lung Cancer

NCI-H1975 is a human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line of adenocarcinoma origin, established in 1988 from a female patient with no smoking history. The line harbors the activating EGFR L858R mutation together with the T790M "gatekeeper" mutation, a genotype that closely mirrors one of the most clinically relevant resistance landscapes in EGFR-driven lung cancer. In an immunocompromised host, NCI-H1975 cells form well-characterized tumors, and the model can be deployed experimentally to interrogate metastatic colonization rather than merely primary-site growth, making it a reference tool for resistance biology and dissemination research.

Fig 1. In vivo validation of H1975 versus H1975-OsiR xenografts: day 1 osimertinib initiation scheme (5 days/week, harvest residual tumors at day 40 for RPPA), parental versus OsiR growth curves, H1975 parental tumors under control/osimertinib 5/10 mg/kg, OsiR tumors under osimertinib 5 mg/kg and control, day-39 response comparison, and RPPA heatmap/volcano plots with PDK1, B-Raf, Akt1, mTOR upregulation tables identifying the PDK1-driven resistance mechanism. (Meraz, Ismail M., et al., 2023)

In metastatic applications, NCI-H1975 cells are introduced into the host through routes matched to distinct biological questions: intravenous or intracardiac delivery generates experimental lung metastases, orthotopic implantation into the lung parenchyma recreates the native tumor microenvironment, and subcutaneous primary tumors can be monitored for spontaneous dissemination. When the cells are stably labeled with luciferase, metastatic outgrowth becomes quantifiable non-invasively by in vivo bioluminescence imaging, enabling longitudinal measurement of metastatic burden, treatment response, and relapse kinetics.

Cell Line Information: NCI-H1975

NCI-H1975 (ATCC CRL-5908) is a thoroughly characterized human lung adenocarcinoma line maintained under standardized culture conditions. Its dual EGFR mutation status, confirmed STR profile, and well-documented growth properties make it one of the most widely used NSCLC lines in resistance and metastasis research. Key characteristics are summarized below.

Our Services

Beyond simple cell line supply, Alfa Cytology operates the NCI-H1975 metastatic model as a fully serviced in vivo program: study directors select the dissemination route matched to your mechanism, inoculate immunodeficient mice under controlled conditions, track colonization by serial bioluminescence imaging, and deliver metastatic nodule counts, histopathology, and pharmacodynamic endpoints as one integrated data package.

Workflow of NCI-H1975 Metastatic Tumor Model Construction

Construction of the NCI-H1975 metastatic tumor model follows a controlled, stepwise procedure in which cell quality, inoculation route, and imaging schedule are fixed before the first animal is enrolled. The core stages are outlined below.

1. Cell line authentication and quality control: NCI-H1975 cells are STR-verified, confirmed mycoplasma-free, and genotyped to document EGFR L858R/T790M status before any animal work begins.
2. Master cell bank expansion: Low-passage cells are expanded under standardized conditions, and a cryopreserved working bank is prepared so that every study arm draws from the same well-characterized source.
3. Reporter labeling (optional): For imaging-based studies, cells are transduced with a luciferase reporter, selected for stable expression, and validated in vitro for signal intensity and linearity.
4. Host strain and route selection: NOD-SCID or NSG mice are assigned according to the experimental design, and the dissemination route — tail vein, intracardiac, orthotopic intrapulmonary, or subcutaneous-spontaneous — is defined to match the scientific question.
5. Tumor cell inoculation: Single-cell suspensions of defined viability (typically ≥90%) are injected at a standardized dose — for example, 1 × 10⁶ cells in 200 μL sterile PBS via the lateral tail vein — with cells kept on ice to prevent clumping.
6. Longitudinal metastasis monitoring: Tumor signal is tracked by serial in vivo bioluminescence imaging on a fixed schedule, while body weight and clinical signs are recorded to define humane endpoints.
7. Treatment administration and efficacy readouts: Once metastatic lesions are established, animals are randomized and dosed with candidate agents, and tumor burden is compared across groups by imaging together with survival or time-to-progression analysis.
8. Endpoint analysis: Lungs and suspected metastatic organs are harvested for ex vivo imaging, metastatic nodule enumeration, H&E and immunohistochemical staining, and final data compilation.

Fig 2. NCI-H1975 Metastatic Tumor Model construction workflow.

Case Study-NCI-H1975 Metastatic Tumor Model Development

Drug discovery teams working on EGFR-directed and anti-metastatic programs have leveraged the NCI-H1975 metastatic model at Alfa Cytology to generate decision-enabling preclinical datasets, including dissemination kinetics, treatment-induced regression of established lesions, and comparative efficacy across combination strategies. Study configurations and outcome summaries from representative programs can be shared upon request under appropriate confidentiality arrangements, allowing your team to assess fit before committing to a full engagement.

Why Choose Alfa Cytology?

Choosing Alfa Cytology for the NCI-H1975 metastatic tumor model means working with a team that treats metastasis as a measurable endpoint rather than an incidental observation. Every study is engineered around three pillars: authenticated biology, quantitative imaging, and decision-grade reporting.

• Route-flexible platform: tail vein, intracardiac, orthotopic, and spontaneous dissemination formats are available within a single program.
• Genotype-confirmed cells: EGFR L858R/T790M status is re-verified before study start to protect the biological validity of your data.
• Quantitative readouts: longitudinal bioluminescence imaging yields metastatic burden curves for every animal, not merely endpoint averages.
• Tailored dosing designs: treatment arms, schedules, and combination sequences are configured around your mechanism of action.
• Integrated endpoint package: ex vivo imaging, nodule counts, and histopathology are consolidated into an audit-ready report.
• Responsive project management: a dedicated study director provides scheduled updates and rapid technical answers throughout the engagement.

Contact Us

If you are planning an anti-metastatic program in EGFR-mutant lung cancer, contact us today to discuss how the NCI-H1975 metastatic tumor model can be configured around your targets and timelines. Reach out to Alfa Cytology and our study directors will respond promptly with a tailored proposal and feasibility assessment.

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