P815 Syngeneic Model Service for Mastocytoma

The P815 Syngeneic Model Service for Mastocytoma delivers a classical, chemically induced mast cell tumor system that has served tumor immunology research for five decades. Alfa Cytology performs the complete range of P815 studies in syngeneic DBA/2 hosts — model establishment, growth and survival monitoring, immune-based treatment evaluation, and metastasis endpoint analysis — producing robust preclinical evidence for mastocytoma and tumor-immunity programs.

Overview of P815 Syngeneic Model for Mastocytoma

P815 is one of the oldest and most extensively characterized murine tumor cell lines, originally established from a mastocytoma induced by methylcholanthrene treatment in a male DBA/2 mouse. Carrying the H-2^d haplotype, the line expresses well-defined tumor-associated antigens — including the prototypical P1A antigen — that are efficiently presented to syngeneic cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and it also expresses Fcγ receptors, which has made it the classic target in redirected cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity assays in vitro. P815 cells additionally produce lysozyme, grow in suspension with a minority adherent population, and have served as a versatile transfection host for engineering antigen-presenting and reporter variants.

Fig 1. Treatment schedule and in vivo efficacy in the P815 syngeneic model: pP1A DNA vaccination combined with anti-CTLA-4/anti-PD-1 induced complete tumor regression and 90% long-term survival, whereas vaccine or checkpoint blockade alone had limited effect. (Lopes, Alessandra, et al., 2018)

In syngeneic DBA/2 recipients, wild-type P815 cells grow progressively after subcutaneous or intradermal inoculation, and the model displays a defined metastatic pattern: intravenous delivery routes tumor cells preferentially to the liver, whereas intradermal implantation supports spontaneous metastasis to draining lymph nodes and beyond. Because P815 is exquisitely sensitive to perforin/granzyme-mediated killing, it has become a benchmark for interrogating NK-cell, macrophage, and T-cell effector mechanisms in vivo, and derivative systems — including c-Kit D814Y-mutant P815 for aggressive mast cell malignancy and ovalbumin-transfected P815-OVA for antigen-specific immunity — extend its reach into adoptive cell therapy and vaccine research. The model’s predictable take rates and immunological transparency keep it a workhorse for preclinical mastocytoma investigation.

Cell Line Information: P815

P815 is a reference mastocytoma line of hematopoietic origin whose immunological properties have been documented across decades of literature. The following table compiles its essential characteristics.

Our Services

Alfa Cytology maintains authenticated, low-passage P815 stocks and operates standardized DBA/2 colonies to support this classic mastocytoma system, offering study configurations that range from straightforward subcutaneous efficacy arms to metastasis-tracking, antigen-specific T-cell, and engineered-variant designs — each executed under rigorous quality control and reported with clear statistical interpretation.

Workflow of P815 Syngeneic Model Construction

Establishing a P815 syngeneic study involves a sequence of well-defined stages, refined over decades of use, that together ensure dependable engraftment and interpretable immune readouts. The main stages are as follows:

1. Cell Line Authentication: P815 cultures are verified by STR profiling and confirmed free of mycoplasma, then expanded within a controlled passage window to preserve antigenicity.
2. Host Preparation: DBA/2 mice (typically 6–10 weeks old) are acclimatized under specific-pathogen-free housing and allocated to experimental groups by randomization.
3. Tumor Inoculation: Cells are administered by the route matching the scientific question: subcutaneously (about 1 × 10⁵ cells) for growth curves, intradermally (about 1 × 10⁶ cells) for spontaneous metastasis, or intravenously for liver-homing studies.
4. Tumor Onset Monitoring: Implant sites are inspected and palpated; once tumors become measurable, caliper-based volume tracking and body-weight recording begin on a fixed schedule.
5. Randomization and Treatment: Animals are re-grouped once tumors reach the target size (e.g., around 100 mm³), and dosing with vehicle, reference immunotherapies, or test articles starts according to the study plan.
6. In-Life Follow-Up: Tumor burden, body weight, and clinical condition are monitored throughout; imaging-capable variants allow longitudinal tracking of metastatic spread in vivo.
7. Necropsy and Endpoint Analysis: Primary tumors are excised and weighed; liver, lymph nodes, and other organs are examined for metastatic foci, and tissues are processed for histology or immune profiling as specified.
8. Data Compilation: Growth kinetics, survival outcomes, and metastasis counts are analyzed and presented in a structured final report.

Fig 2. P815 Syngeneic Model construction workflow.

Case Study-P815 Syngeneic Model Development

In a typical preclinical collaboration, Alfa Cytology built the P815 syngeneic mastocytoma model for a sponsor investigating an immune-modulating candidate. The work covered DBA/2 model setup, allocation of treatment and reference arms, scheduled monitoring of tumor growth and animal condition, and terminal assessment of primary tumors together with metastasis-relevant tissues — generating a consolidated evidence package that guided the client’s subsequent preclinical planning. Study formats can be adjusted to growth, survival, metastasis, or antigen-specific immunotherapy designs as program needs dictate.

Why Choose Alfa Cytology?

Alfa Cytology brings disciplined execution and genuine model familiarity to every P815 program, translating a historically important tumor system into modern, decision-ready studies. Key reasons to work with us include:

• Long-standing, hands-on proficiency with P815 across growth, metastasis, and immunity-oriented designs.
• Multiple inoculation formats — subcutaneous, intradermal, and intravenous — within one integrated service.
• Capability to deploy engineered P815 variants, including reporter-tagged and antigen-transfected lines.
• Documented quality practices spanning cell authentication, animal randomization, and blinded readouts.
• Endpoint flexibility from tumor kinetics and survival through to organ-level metastasis enumeration.
• Clear, responsive communication with concise reporting delivered on agreed timelines.

Contact Us

Ready to put the P815 syngeneic mastocytoma model to work in your program? The preclinical team at Alfa Cytology is standing by to scope your study. Contact us for a tailored proposal, or reach out to discuss timelines, endpoints, and pricing — we would welcome the opportunity to contribute to your research.

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