NEC8

Description

NEC8 is a human embryonal carcinoma cell line derived from a testicular germ cell tumor of a 24-year-old East Asian male patient. This epithelial-like cell line grows adherently in vitro and exhibits high expression of globo-series glycosphingolipids (Gb4 and Gb3), along with cancer stem cell-associated genes such as GADD45β. The cytoplasm of NEC8 cells is characterized by a high abundance of glycogen granules, leading to a strong periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction. Although androgen receptor (AR) expression is relatively low compared to seminoma-derived cells, NEC8 demonstrates tumorigenic potential and primarily consist primarily of embryonal carcinoma cells with the potential for trophoblastic differentiation.

Application

• NEC8 plays a crucial role in testicular cancer research, particularly for studying pathogenesis and progression of embryonal carcinoma, a highly malignant subtype of non-seminomatous germ cell tumors. It is frequently used to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying chemoresistance, aiding in identifying factors responsible for chemotherapeutic resistance in testicular germ cell tumors, offering insights into potential strategies to overcome this resistance. Moreover, NEC8 provides a platform the discovery and evaluation of novel immunotherapy targets, paving the way for the development of innovative, targeted treatment approaches to combat these aggressive malignancies.