NCI-H716 Xenograft Model Service for Colon Cancer

NCI-H716 Xenograft Model Service for Colon Cancer provides a validated preclinical platform for evaluating therapeutic efficacy against cecum-derived colorectal adenocarcinoma. Alfa Cytology specializes in constructing robust, clinically relevant NCI-H716 xenograft models to accelerate your colon cancer drug development pipeline with reproducible data and expert study design.

Overview of NCI-H716 Xenograft Model for Colon Cancer

The NCI-H716 cell line was established in 1987 from ascites fluid of a 33-year-old Caucasian male with poorly differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma. Unlike most colorectal cancer cell lines, NCI-H716 exhibits distinctive endocrine differentiation features, including cytoplasmic dense-core granules characteristic of enteroendocrine secretion, and expresses chromogranin A and synaptophysin. The cell line grows in suspension as multicellular aggregates, an adaptation likely reflecting its ascites origin, and maintains epithelial morphology under adherent conditions when cultured on extracellular matrix components such as Matrigel. NCI-H716 is unique among colorectal cancer models for its ability to process proglucagon into glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), making it the only characterized human intestinal L-cell model available for studying gut hormone physiology.

A defining molecular characteristic of NCI-H716 is focal amplification of the FGFR2 gene, which drives constitutive receptor activation and renders the cell line dependent on FGFR2 signaling for growth and survival. The cell line is wild-type for common colorectal oncogenes including APC, CTNNB1, KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA, but harbors a TP53 mutation (E224D). In xenograft studies, NCI-H716 tumors demonstrate robust subcutaneous growth in immunocompromised mice with 100% take rate, and have been extensively validated as a model for testing FGFR inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates, and targeted alpha therapies. The model's FGFR2-driven oncogenic dependency makes it particularly valuable for preclinical evaluation of FGFR-targeted agents and for studying signaling pathways involving AKT, ERK, S6RP, and NF-kappaB.

Figure 1. Morphological and molecular changes in NCI-H716 cells after treatment with CBD and AZD4547. (Ju, Yeonuk, et al., 2025)

Cell Line Information: NCI-H716

The following table summarizes the key characteristics of the NCI-H716 cell line, derived from authoritative sources including ATCC, Cellosaurus, and peer-reviewed literature.

Our Services

Alfa Cytology leverages the unique molecular profile of NCI-H716 to deliver precision preclinical colon cancer modeling services. Our validated NCI-H716 xenograft platform supports pharmacodynamic biomarker analysis, efficacy assessment of FGFR-targeted therapies, and comprehensive tumor growth monitoring with stringent quality control, ensuring reliable data to advance your therapeutic candidates from discovery through IND-enabling studies.

Workflow of NCI-H716 Xenograft Model Construction

The NCI-H716 xenograft model is constructed through a standardized, quality-controlled workflow that ensures reproducible tumor growth and reliable pharmacological readouts. Given the suspension growth characteristics of NCI-H716 cells, special attention is paid to cell preparation and inoculation techniques to optimize tumor take rates and growth kinetics.

1. Cell Culture and Expansion: NCI-H716 cells are maintained in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% FBS under standard suspension culture conditions. Cells are expanded to the required quantity, with viability confirmed by trypan blue exclusion (typically >95%).
2. Cell Harvest and Preparation: Suspension cultures are gently homogenized and cell aggregates are dissociated by pipetting. Cell density is determined, and cells are washed and resuspended in ice-cold PBS or serum-free medium at the appropriate concentration for injection.
3. Recipient Mouse Preparation: Immunocompromised mice (e.g., NMRI nude, BALB/c nude, or NSG) are acclimatized under pathogen-free conditions. For humanized immune models, NOG mice may be irradiated (200 Rad) one day prior to tumor cell injection to enhance engraftment.
4. Subcutaneous Tumor Inoculation: NCI-H716 cells (typically 2.5-10 x 10^6 cells in 100 microL PBS) are injected subcutaneously into the right flank of each mouse using a sterile syringe. The suspension nature of the cells allows for smooth injection without Matrigel supplementation, though ECM components may be used for specific experimental designs.
5. Tumor Monitoring and Randomization: Tumor growth is monitored by electronic caliper measurement twice weekly, with volumes calculated using the formula: length x diameter^2 x pi/6. Mice are randomized into treatment groups based on tumor size once tumors reach approximately 100-200 mm^3.
6. Treatment Administration and Endpoint Analysis: Test compounds are administered according to the study protocol (e.g., oral gavage, intravenous injection, intraperitoneal). Tumor volumes and body weights are recorded throughout the study. At endpoint, tumors are harvested for pharmacodynamic analysis (Western blot, IHC, FISH) and biomarker assessment.

Figure 2: Schematic workflow illustrating the derivation and construction of the NCI-H716 Xenograft Model at Alfa Cytology.

Case Study-NCI-H716 Xenograft Model Development

Alfa Cytology has successfully developed and validated the NCI-H716 subcutaneous xenograft model for preclinical evaluation of FGFR-targeted therapies and combination regimens in colon cancer. Our internal dataset demonstrates consistent tumor growth kinetics with median tumor volumes reaching evaluable endpoints within the standard study duration, enabling robust statistical powering for efficacy assessments. Pharmacodynamic analyses confirm target engagement through modulation of p-FGFR2, p-ERK, and downstream signaling markers in tumor tissue. Detailed efficacy data, including tumor growth inhibition rates, survival curves, and biomarker correlation analyses, are available upon request under confidentiality agreement. Please contact our team to discuss your specific study requirements and access our comprehensive case study portfolio.

Why Choose Alfa Cytology?

Alfa Cytology combines scientific expertise with operational excellence to deliver NCI-H716 xenograft model services that meet the highest standards of preclinical research.

• Validated NCI-H716 xenograft model with documented tumor growth kinetics and 100% take rate in immunocompromised mice.
• Specialized expertise in FGFR2-driven tumor models, enabling precise pharmacodynamic and biomarker analyses.
• Flexible study designs accommodating single-agent, combination, and dose-escalation protocols with custom endpoints.
• Rigorous quality control including STR authentication, mycoplasma testing, and pathogen-free animal husbandry.
• Comprehensive data packages with statistical analysis, histopathology, and molecular profiling to support IND submissions.
• Dedicated project management ensuring transparent communication, on-time delivery, and regulatory compliance.

Contact Us

Ready to advance your colon cancer therapeutic program with the NCI-H716 xenograft model? Contact us today to discuss your project requirements, request a quote, or schedule a consultation with our scientific team. Reach out to us via email or phone, and let Alfa Cytology be your trusted partner in preclinical oncology research.

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