Description
SK-N-MC was originally described as a neuroblastoma cell line. It is now widely regarded as having originated from an Askin’s tumor (Ewing family of tumors). These cells harbor the oncogenic EWS-FLI1 chromosomal rearrangement. They were initially found to contain double-minute chromosomes, which were lost upon prolonged in vitro culture. The SK-N-MC cells have little or no dopamine-b-hydroxylase activity but show elevated choline acetyltransferase activity compared to other neuroblastoma cell lines such as the SK-N-SH and SH-SY5Y. These cells are known to form tumors in immunocompromised mice.
Source
This cell line was established in 1971 from a metastatic site (supra-orbital region) in a 14-year-old Caucasian female with an Askin’s tumor.
Inventors
- June L. Biedler, PhD, former Chairman, Cell Biology and Genetics Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering
- Lawrence Helson, MD, formerly at Memorial Sloan Kettering
- Barbara A. Spengler, formerly at Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering
Key References
- Biedler JL et al. (1973) Morphology and growth, tumorigenicity, and cytogenetics of human neuroblastoma cells in continuous culture. Cancer Research 33: 2643-2652 (PubMed ID: 4748425)
- Helson L et al. (1975) Human neuroblastoma in nude mice. Cancer Research 35: 2594-2599 (PubMed ID: 167965)
- Biedler JL et al. (1978) Multiple neurotransmitter synthesis by human neuroblastoma cell lines and clones. Cancer Research 38: 3751-3757 (PubMed ID: 29704)
Licensing Information
This cell line may be licensed nonexclusively for research or commercial purposes.
Contact Information
- For licensing requests: Alexandra Buga, MBA, Business Development Analyst, Office of Technology Development, MSK, 646-888-1078, bugaa@mskcc.org
- For non-licensing requests from academic-research institutions: Frances Weis-Garcia, PhD, Associate Laboratory Member/Head, Antibody & Bioresource Core Facility, MSK, 646-888-2354, weisgarf@mskcc.org