EZB-ICR Cell Line: A New Established and Characterized Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line From Tongue

BACKGROUND: Tongue cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of oral squamous cell carcinoma which needs more investigations. Herein, we aimed to establish and characterize a tongue cancer cell line. METHODS: Tumor tissue was obtained from a 70-year-old woman with tongue cancer. The established cell line named as EZB-ICR and characterized for doubling time, expression of specific markers, HPV corporation and migration status using flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining, multiplex PCR, and migration assay. RESULTS: EZB-ICR was negative for expression of mesenchymal specific markers, cytokeratin19, pan-cytokeratin, vimentin and EPCAM, but was positive for S100 and Nestin. No appearance of human papilloma virus DNA was seen. The doubling time of EZB-ICR was 31 hours and migration assay confirmed its metastatic nature. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, EZB-ICR is the first tongue human cancer cell line established in Iran, and its features make it appropriate for cancer-based in vitro studies and contribute to more studies on tongue cancer.