Ca9-22

The Ca9-22 cell line is a human-derived epithelial model established from a gingival squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) of the lower jaw. It serves as a specific and valuable tool for studying malignancies originating from the oral cavity, particularly those arising from the gingiva. Genomically, it carries mutations typical of OSCC, most notably a frequently cited TP53 mutation (R248L), which contributes to loss of tumor suppressor function and genomic instability. Phenotypically, it exhibits adherent, epithelial-like growth and forms moderately differentiated tumors in immunocompromised mice.

Current studies leveraging the Ca9-22 cell line focus on several key areas of oral oncology:

Molecular Pathogenesis of OSCC: Investigating the functional consequences of specific genetic alterations (e.g., mutant TP53 signaling) on cell cycle control, apoptosis, and the crosstalk with oncogenic pathways like PI3K/AKT.

Drug Repurposing and Novel Compound Screening: Serving as one of several OSCC cell lines in panels to screen for the efficacy of novel small molecules, natural compounds, or repurposed drugs targeting proliferation, survival, or sensitization to radiotherapy.

Angiogenesis and Tumor Microenvironment: Studying the expression and regulation of pro-angiogenic factors (e.g., VEGF) by OSCC cells and their paracrine effects on endothelial cells.

Biomarker Discovery and Validation: Used as a model system to validate the functional role of candidate genes or non-coding RNAs (e.g., miRNAs, lncRNAs) identified from clinical OSCC samples as promoters or suppressors of malignant phenotypes.