HCC38 Cells

The HCC38 cell line is a triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) model characterized by its lack of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2 expression, making it a critical tool for studying aggressive breast cancer subtypes that do not respond to hormone or HER2-targeted therapies. HCC38 cells are particularly valuable for research into treatment resistance and the mechanisms driving TNBC progression. For instance, exposure to cisplatin can lead to the development of cisplatin-resistant subclones such as HCC38CisR, which exhibit increased activation of pro-survival pathways mediated by receptor tyrosine kinases (e.g., IGF1R and EGFR). This resistance can be counteracted by targeted therapies like NVP-BEZ235, a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, which has shown potential to restore cisplatin sensitivity in HCC38CisR. In addition, the HCC38 cell line has been studied in the context of apoptosis and invasion mechanisms. The knockdown of specific genes, such as OC90, has been shown to significantly reduce cell viability and enhance apoptosis in HCC38, underlining the role of specific molecular targets in cell survival and invasive behavior. This feature is relevant for identifying novel therapeutic approaches for TNBC. Moreover, HCC38's response to treatment, including resistance mechanisms, highlights its utility for exploring drug combinations that could circumvent resistance and enhance treatment efficacy. Furthermore, studies with HCC38 have demonstrated the efficacy of small-molecule inhibitors in overcoming resistance when combined with conventional chemotherapeutics. For example, co-treatment strategies involving PI3K/mTOR inhibitors alongside traditional chemotherapy agents show promise in reducing proliferation rates and inducing apoptosis in resistant cell variants. Such findings contribute to the development of targeted therapies that address the challenges of treatment resistance in TNBC.