The G401 cell line is a human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell line derived from a primary tumor in a 2-year-old Caucasian female with Wilms’ tumor. Wilms’ tumor is a pediatric malignancy that arises from the developing kidneys and is the most common type of kidney cancer in children. The G401 cell line is widely used as an in vitro model for studying the biology of Wilms’ tumor and for evaluating potential therapeutic strategies for this type of cancer.

G401 cells have been extensively characterized and exhibit several features typical of Wilms’ tumor, including the expression of specific renal cell markers and the presence of characteristic chromosomal abnormalities. Additionally, G401 cells carry a mutation in the WT1 gene, which is frequently mutated in Wilms’ tumor and plays a crucial role in the development and progression of this cancer.

Researchers use the G401 cell line to study various aspects of Wilms’ tumor biology, including the role of WT1 and other genes involved in tumor initiation and progression, tumor cell proliferation and invasion, and drug resistance mechanisms. Additionally, the G401 cell line serves as a valuable tool for drug screening and testing the efficacy of novel targeted therapies and immunotherapeutic approaches for Wilms’ tumor.

It is important to note that while the G401 cell line has proven useful in many aspects of Wilms’ tumor research, it is a cell line derived from a single patient and may not accurately represent the heterogeneity of Wilms’ tumor. Consequently, researchers often complement their studies using G401 cells with investigations involving other Wilms tumor cell lines and patient-derived samples.