MC38 (Mouse Colon 38) Tumor Model Overview
The MC38 syngeneic mouse tumor model is a well‑established, immunocompetent colorectal carcinoma model derived from C57BL/6 mice. Characterized by robust immune infiltration and strong responsiveness to immune checkpoint blockade, MC38 is widely used for evaluating immunotherapy mechanisms, combination strategies, and pharmacodynamic biomarkers.
Why Choose the MC38 Mouse Model?
- Highly immunogenic tumor microenvironment – Enables clear assessment of immune‑mediated anti-tumor activity
- Checkpoint inhibitor–responsive – Demonstrates strong responses to anti‑PD‑1, anti‑CTLA‑4, and combination therapy
- Ideal for mechanism validation – Frequently used as a benchmark for IO proof‑of‑concept studies
- Extensive translational data – Supports PD, biomarker, and immune profiling endpoints
MC38 Colorectal Carcinoma Tumor Model Characteristics
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Tumor Type | Colorectal carcinoma |
| Cell Line | MC38 (including MC38‑OVA variants) |
| Mouse Strain | C57BL/6 |
| Immune Status | Fully immunocompetent |
| ICI Sensitivity | Highly responsive to anti‑PD‑1 and anti‑CTLA‑4 |
| Metastasis | Rapid and reproducible subcutaneous growth |
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Immunotherapy Response Profile of MC38 Tumor Model
- Anti‑PD‑1: Robust antitumor activity with tumor growth inhibition
- Anti‑CTLA‑4: Clear monotherapy efficacy observed
- Anti‑CTLA‑4 and Anti‑PD‑1: Strong combination efficacy in established tumors
This response profile makes MC38 a gold‑standard model for immuno‑oncology discovery, combination optimization, and translational research.
MC38: Anti-CTLA-4 (9H10) /
Anti-PD-1 (RMP1-14) Therapy (~100 mm3)
Combination efficacy observed with established tumors
Figure 1. Sensitivity to immune checkpoint blockade in the MC38 model. The MC38 model exhibits high immunogenicity and robust responsiveness to standard-of-care therapies. As shown in the growth curves, monotherapy with anti-PD-1 or anti-CTLA-4 induces significant tumor growth inhibition, while the combination of both agents results in enhanced efficacy and complete regressions in a subset of the cohort. This predictable response profile makes MC38 an ideal benchmark for evaluating novel immuno-oncology (IO) candidates.
Study Capabilities
In Vivo
- Subcutaneous tumor implantation in C57BL/6 mice
- Longitudinal tumor growth and survival studies
- Combination studies with chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted agents
Pharmacodynamic and Immune Analysis
- Comprehensive TIL profiling (CD8, CD4, Tregs, macrophages, MDSCs)
- Cytokine and protein analysis (ELISA, Luminex)
- Gene expression and kinetic PD analysis (qPCR, QuantiGene)
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Ideal Applications of MC38 Mouse Model
- Immunotherapy mechanism‑of‑action studies
- Checkpoint inhibitor and IO combination benchmarking
- Pharmacodynamic and biomarker discovery studies
- Translational research supporting clinical IO programs
Related Capabilities
- Standard‑of‑care and experimental IO combinations
- Whole exome sequencing and mutational profiling
- Integrated in vivo, in vitro, and translational oncology support
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