SNU-5 Xenograft Model Service for Gastric Cancer

The SNU-5 xenograft model is a validated cell line-derived xenograft (CDX) system for preclinical evaluation of gastric cancer therapeutics, leveraging a c-Met-amplified, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma cell line established from metastatic ascites. Alfa Cytology provides comprehensive SNU-5 xenograft model services encompassing in vivo tumor establishment, compound administration, longitudinal monitoring, and multi-modal endpoint analysis to support your preclinical drug development pipeline with reproducible, IACUC-compliant data generation.

Overview of SNU-5 Xenograft Model for Gastric Cancer

SNU-5 is a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line originally established by J. Park in 1987 from the metastatic ascites of a 33-year-old Korean female patient with poorly differentiated gastric carcinoma, following prior chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin-C, and doxorubicin. The cell line exhibits a hypotetraploid karyotype and forms multicellular aggregates in culture, with documented expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), TAG-72, L-dopa decarboxylase (DDC), and receptors for acetylcholine, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and muscarinic agents. Notably, SNU-5 harbors c-Met gene amplification with 8-9 copies, rendering it a valuable model for studying receptor tyrosine kinase-driven gastric cancer biology and evaluating targeted therapeutic strategies.

In xenograft applications, SNU-5 demonstrates reproducible tumorigenicity in immunodeficient hosts, typically athymic nude mice, with subcutaneous implantation yielding measurable tumors within 1-2 weeks. The model has been extensively validated in preclinical studies investigating combination therapies, MET inhibitor resistance mechanisms, and anti-angiogenic compounds. Key research applications include evaluation of gamma-tocotrienol sensitization to capecitabine, PI3K p110alpha as a biomarker for tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, and oridonin-mediated anti-tumor activity through c-Met pathway inhibition, proliferation suppression (Ki67), and microvessel density reduction (CD31).

Figure 1. Representative images of western blot analysis for APEX1 and Jagged-1 protein expression in gastric cancer cells. (Kim, Hong-Beum, et al., 2020)

Cell Line Information: SNU-5

SNU-5 is classified as a human epithelial gastric adenocarcinoma cell line with lymphoblast-like morphology, derived from metastatic ascites following cytotoxic chemotherapy. The cell line exhibits adherent growth properties with a doubling time of approximately 34 hours and is maintained under Biosafety Level 1 conditions. Below is a comprehensive summary of the cell line characteristics:

Our Services

Alfa Cytology delivers end-to-end SNU-5 xenograft model services tailored to your preclinical research objectives, from initial cell line authentication and in vivo tumor establishment through compound dosing, longitudinal tumor monitoring, and comprehensive histopathological and molecular endpoint analysis. Our experienced team ensures study designs align with regulatory expectations and scientific rigor, providing you with high-quality, reproducible data to advance your therapeutic candidates from bench to bedside.

Workflow of SNU-5 Xenograft Model Construction

The construction of the SNU-5 xenograft model follows a standardized, six-phase workflow designed to ensure reproducible tumor growth, reliable pharmacological readouts, and compliant data documentation. Each phase incorporates stringent quality control measures to maintain model integrity across studies.

1. Phase 1: Cell Culture and Expansion SNU-5 cells are maintained in exponential growth phase under aseptic, SPF-grade conditions using DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS and antibiotics. Cultures are monitored daily for morphology, confluence, and contamination, with passage at 70-80% confluence to preserve proliferative capacity.
2. Phase 2: Cell Harvest and Quality Control Adherent cells are gently trypsinized, washed in sterile PBS, and resuspended. Viability is determined via trypan blue exclusion assay with a minimum threshold of 99% viable cells. The cell suspension is adjusted to a concentration of 1x10^7 cells/mL for injection preparation.
3. Phase 3: Tumor Cell Inoculation The SNU-5 cell suspension is mixed 1:1 with growth factor-reduced Matrigel on ice. Each mouse receives a single subcutaneous injection of 100 uL (1x10^6 cells) into the right flank using a 25-gauge needle. The injection site is marked for subsequent tracking.
4. Phase 4: Tumor Monitoring and Growth Assessment Injection sites are palpated up to three times weekly. Once tumors become palpable, dimensions are measured with digital calipers (length x width x height), and tumor volume is calculated using the formula (L x W^2)/2. Tumors are allowed to reach an average volume of 90-140 mm3 before randomization into treatment cohorts.
5. Phase 5: Treatment Administration and In-Life Monitoring Animals are randomized into treatment groups based on tumor volume stratification. Test compounds are administered according to the pre-established dosing schedule (e.g., oral gavage, intraperitoneal, or intravenous). Body weights are recorded 2-3 times weekly, and tumor dimensions are measured daily to capture growth dynamics.
6. Phase 6: Endpoint and Tissue Collection The study reaches endpoint when tumor volume reaches approximately 2,000 mm3 or the predetermined size limit per the approved IACUC protocol. Mice are euthanized humanely, and final necropsy is performed. Tumors are excised, weighed, and documented by digital imaging. Tissues are preserved in RNA-later reagent, snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen, or prepared as formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks for downstream histology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular analysis.

Figure 2. SNU-5 xenograft model construction workflow.

Case Study-SNU-5 Xenograft Model Development

In a representative SNU-5 xenograft model development study, female athymic nude mice were inoculated subcutaneously with 1x10^6 SNU-5 cells in Matrigel suspension. Tumors became palpable within 10-14 days post-implantation and reached the target randomization volume of 90-140 mm3 by Day 18. Mice were randomized into vehicle control and test compound groups (n=8-10 per group) and dosed according to the predetermined schedule. Longitudinal monitoring demonstrated differential tumor growth kinetics between cohorts, with the test compound group exhibiting measurable tumor growth inhibition relative to vehicle controls. Endpoint analysis at Day 35 included tumor weight measurement, Ki67 proliferation index assessment, CD31 microvessel density quantification, and body weight change evaluation. Comprehensive histopathological and molecular analyses were performed on excised tumor tissues preserved in multiple formats. Detailed quantitative results and statistical analyses are available upon request under confidentiality agreement.

Why Choose Alfa Cytology?

Alfa Cytology combines scientific expertise, operational excellence, and client-centric flexibility to deliver preclinical xenograft services that accelerate your drug development timeline while maintaining the highest standards of data quality and regulatory compliance.

• Validated, in-house SNU-5 cell bank with routine authentication and mycoplasma screening to ensure model fidelity.
• Experienced technical team with specialized expertise in gastric cancer xenograft models and MET-driven tumor biology.
• Customizable study designs accommodating single-agent, combination, dose-response, and scheduling optimization protocols.
• Comprehensive endpoint capabilities including tumor volume kinetics, body weight monitoring, histopathology, IHC, and molecular profiling.
• IACUC-approved protocols and GLP-compliant documentation supporting IND-enabling and regulatory submission packages.
• Rapid study initiation with dedicated project management and transparent milestone reporting throughout the engagement.
• Competitive turnaround times without compromising scientific rigor, enabling faster decision-making in your pipeline.
• Flexible data delivery formats and confidentiality frameworks tailored to your intellectual property protection requirements.

Contact Us

Ready to advance your gastric cancer therapeutic program with a validated SNU-5 xenograft model? Contact us today to discuss your study requirements, receive a customized proposal, and explore how Alfa Cytology can support your preclinical research objectives. Reach out to our scientific team for a detailed consultation and project scoping session. Please reach out to us today via our inquiry form or email to learn more about our SNU-5 Xenograft Model services.

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