YTN16 Orthotopic Mouse Model Service for Gastric Cancer

The YTN16 orthotopic mouse model for gastric cancer recreates primary tumor growth in the stomach together with spontaneous spread to draining lymph nodes, the peritoneal cavity, and the lungs, all within a fully immunocompetent host. As a preclinical CRO specializing in oncology model development, Alfa Cytology provides turnkey YTN16 orthotopic model construction, in vivo pharmacology, and metastasis monitoring, adapting each study to the client’s compound, schedule, and endpoint requirements.

Overview of YTN16 Orthotopic Mouse Model for Gastric Cancer

YTN16 is a murine gastric cancer cell line that originated from a gastric tumor chemically induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) in a p53 heterozygous knockout C57BL/6 mouse, and was subsequently subcloned into a stable, transplantable line. Because the cells and the recipient animals share the same C57BL/6 genetic background, YTN16 tumors engraft in syngeneic, immunocompetent hosts rather than in immunodeficient mice. This preserves the complete tumor immune microenvironment, allowing researchers to study immune-tumor interactions that are lost in conventional human xenograft systems, while in vitro culture remains straightforward and reproducible.

Fig 1. In vivo tumor growth characteristics of YTN16 murine gastric cancer cells in syngeneic C57BL/6 mice, demonstrating robust tumorigenicity and aggressive biological behavior. (Yamamoto, Masami, et al., 2018)

When implanted orthotopically into the gastric wall, YTN16 cells generate locally invasive primary tumors that mirror the growth pattern of gastric adenocarcinoma and spontaneously metastasize to regional lymph nodes, the peritoneum, and the lungs. The model has proven valuable for dissecting the tumor microenvironment, evaluating immune checkpoint blockade and neoantigen-based vaccines, and testing targeted agents such as FGFR4 inhibitors, with luciferase-labeled derivatives further enabling non-invasive tracking of tumor burden in vivo. Its reproducible engraftment and metastatic behavior make the YTN16 orthotopic model a translational bridge between cell-based assays and preclinical drug evaluation.

Cell Line Information: YTN16

YTN16 belongs to the YTN series of transplantable mouse gastric cancer lines (YTN2, YTN3, YTN5, YTN16) and is the most aggressive member of the panel. The key characteristics of this cell line are summarized below.

Our Services

From cell expansion and surgical implantation to randomization, dosing, in vivo imaging, and endpoint histopathology, Alfa Cytology manages every stage of the YTN16 orthotopic workflow under one roof, providing clients with a single, accountable partner for their gastric cancer preclinical programs.

Workflow of YTN16 Orthotopic Mouse Model Construction

Construction of the YTN16 orthotopic gastric cancer model combines standard cell culture practices with delicate microsurgical techniques. The overall process begins with qualified cell material, proceeds through orthotopic implantation into the gastric wall of syngeneic C57BL/6 mice, and continues with longitudinal tumor monitoring through predefined endpoints.

1. Cell Preparation and Quality Control: YTN16 cells are expanded in vitro under standardized conditions, confirmed mycoplasma-negative, and prepared as a single-cell suspension with validated viability before implantation.
2. Recipient Animal Preparation: C57BL/6 mice are acclimatized and randomized by body weight; anesthesia and perioperative analgesia are administered in accordance with institutional animal care protocols.
3. Surgical Exposure of the Stomach: A small midline laparotomy is performed under aseptic conditions to exteriorize and stabilize the gastric wall for precise cell delivery.
4. Orthotopic Implantation: A defined number of YTN16 cells (typically on the order of 10⁶ cells in a minimal-volume carrier such as Matrigel/PBS) is injected into the gastric submucosa or serosa-muscular layer, where the cells seed a localized primary tumor nidus.
5. Wound Closure and Recovery: The abdominal wall and skin are sutured, and animals recover under warming with postoperative monitoring until fully ambulatory.
6. Tumor Engraftment Monitoring: Implantation success is followed by abdominal palpation, caliper or ultrasound measurement where applicable, and non-invasive bioluminescence imaging when luciferase-labeled cells are used.
7. Treatment and Efficacy Evaluation: Once tumors reach the target size, animals are randomized into treatment groups and dosed according to the study design, with body weight and general condition recorded throughout the in vivo phase.
8. Endpoint Analysis: At study termination, mice are necropsied; primary gastric tumors are weighed and measured, metastatic foci in lymph nodes, peritoneum, and lungs are counted, and tissues are processed for histopathology, immunohistochemistry, or flow cytometric profiling.

Fig 2. YTN16 orthotopic mouse model construction workflow.

Case Study-YTN16 Orthotopic Mouse Model Development

Alfa Cytology has supported preclinical gastric cancer programs using the YTN16 orthotopic platform, establishing gastric-wall tumors in syngeneic C57BL/6 mice and executing client-defined treatment regimens with comprehensive readouts that have included primary tumor growth curves, peritoneal dissemination scoring, metastasis counts, and survival analysis. Detailed study designs and representative data from these preclinical engagements are available upon request to qualified clients.

Why Choose Alfa Cytology?

Selecting the right CRO determines the quality, reproducibility, and translational value of orthotopic gastric cancer data. Alfa Cytology combines syngeneic model expertise with disciplined study execution to deliver dependable preclinical results.

• Established proficiency in syngeneic, immunocompetent tumor modeling that preserves full host immunity.
• Experienced microsurgical team delivering consistent orthotopic engraftment in the gastric wall.
• Flexible, multi-modal readouts spanning bioluminescence imaging, histopathology, and immune profiling.
• Customized study designs aligned with each client’s compound mechanism and development stage.
• IACUC-guided animal care with clearly defined humane endpoints and health monitoring.
• Dedicated project managers providing responsive communication and rapid data delivery.

Contact Us

Whether your goal is to test an immunotherapy combination, interrogate peritoneal spread, or benchmark a targeted agent, Alfa Cytology will design a YTN16 orthotopic study that fits your molecule and timeline. Contact us today to discuss your preclinical study design, or reach out to our scientific team for a customized quotation and feasibility assessment.

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