Research Tools
Human Basal Cell Carcinoma Cell Line UW-BCC1
WARF: P140339US01
Inventors: Vladimir Spiegelman, Felicite Noubissi Kamdem
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing the first immortalized basal cell carcinoma cell line for research and drug screening.
Overview
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer, with around 3 million cases diagnosed each year. BCC involves the basal cells, which are in the deepest layer of the epidermis, the outermost layer of skin. While the mortality rate from BCC is low because it rarely metastasizes, BCC can spread to adjacent skin tissue and cause serious disfigurement. The molecular basis of BCC pathogenesis is not well understood, and there is currently no immortalized, cultured BCC cell line to use in researching this disease.
The Invention
UW-Madison researchers have created the first immortalized BCC cell line. To create the cell line, a carcinoma was removed from the leg of a patient, and the cells were treated with trypsin and grown on media with amino acids and L-glutamine but without calcium. The medium was further supplemented with various growth factors and bovine serum. After the third passage, the cells were plated in a standard serum-containing medium. The cells were stable through the 39th passage.
Applications
- Researching the biology of BCC
- Drug screening assays to treat BCC
Key Benefits
- First human BCC cell line
Tech Fields
For current licensing status, please contact Jennifer Gottwald at [javascript protected email address] or 608-960-9854