The 786-O cell line is a human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell line. It was established from the primary tumor of a 58-year-old Caucasian male with clear cell renal carcinoma. The 786-O cell line is commonly used in cancer research to study the biology of renal cell carcinoma and to investigate potential therapeutic strategies for this type of cancer.

The 786-O cells have a mutation in the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene, which is frequently mutated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The loss of functional VHL protein results in the stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), leading to the overexpression of various genes involved in angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and survival. Consequently, the 786-O cell line serves as a valuable model for understanding the role of VHL and HIFs in renal cell carcinoma and for developing targeted therapies aimed at this pathway.

In addition to studying the VHL-HIF pathway, the 786-O cell line has been used in drug screening, investigation of cancer cell metabolism, and the evaluation of immunotherapeutic approaches for renal cell carcinoma.