Establishment and Characterization of gc-006-03, a Novel Human Signet Ring Cell Gastric Cancer Cell Line Derived from Metastatic Ascites

Signet ring cell gastric cancer (SRCGC) is a special type of gastric cancer with rapid progression and poor prognosis. However, few available SRCGC cell lines from Chinese patients can be used for research, the molecular mechanism of its growth and metastasis is still incompletely understood. In this study, we established and characterized a novel SRCGC cell line, gc-006-03.The cells showed a tendency to pile up without contact inhibition. G-band karyotypes of gc-006-03 were revealed hypotriploid with a modal chromosome number of 51. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the cells were positive for CEA, CK7, CDX2 and Ki-67(45%), and negative for CK20, TTF1and Li-cadherin. Flow cytometry analysis showed that gc-006-3 had 25% of CD44(+) cells. The cells possessed strong clonality and high plating efficiency, and the doubling time was 36h. The cells grew vigorously for more than 100 passages in serial culture. Meanwhile, the cells showed a high rate of tumor formation. Tumors were observed in all of the nude mice (5/5) given injections of the cells. The metastatic capability of the cell line was found in zebrafish injected the cells. The results of whole genome sequencing revealed the unique genomic characteristics of gc-006-03. In summary, this new stable cell line may be useful in basic and clinical research on gastric signet ring cell carcinoma.