C6

Description

C6 is a rat glioma cell line originally derived from an N-nitrosomethylurea-induced brain tumor in an adult male Wistar-Furth rat. These cells exhibit fibroblast-like morphology and adherent culture properties, with a doubling time of 25-30 hours. Cytogenetic analysis indicates a diploid male karyotype. They overexpress glioma-associated markers such as S-100 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and they activate human tumor-relevant pathways, including PDGFβ and EGFR, mimicking key features of human gliomas. They display tumorigenicity in immunocompromised mice under subcutaneous inoculation with demonstrated metastatic potential to distant organs including lungs. C6 cells are also susceptible to neurotropic viruses, including lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), herpes simplex (HSV), and vaccinia virus. Its responsiveness to extracellular matrix (ECM) components through upregulated Ras pathway activity enhances its utility in studying tumor microenvironment interactions.

Application

• The C6 rat glioma cell line serves as a capable model for studying the biology of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and related high-grade gliomas. It is widely employed in neuro-oncology research, particularly in drug discovery. Its tumorigenicity enables the creation of orthotopic and subcutaneous xenograft models, facilitating in vivo assessment of drug efficacy, resistance mechanisms, and invasion patterns of therapeutic agents. Researchers use C6’s unique PDGFβ/EGFR pathway activation along with S-100/GFAP overexpression to investigate glioma-stromal interactions, tumor invasiveness, and tumor-induced angiogenesis. Furthermore, its viral susceptibility profile facilitates studies on oncolytic virotherapy and blood-brain barrier dynamics.