Hello everyone!
The OVCAR-3 cell line have been growing super slow. RMPI 1640 with 20% FBS is the media used (as suggested by ATCC). I've noticed that other researchers have used insulin in their media.
What is the reasoning behind it? Is it specifically used for something?
Thanks in advance!
Dear Stefanie Rivera
I am encountering the same problem right now, I see 4 years later after your initial post. Did you even encounter an answer? I am currently growing OVCAR3s in 2D with RMPI 1640 + 10% FBS + 1% PS and they are growing extremely slowly with low vitality (60-70% vitality by trypan blue). I am going to try growing in parallel with RPMI1640 + 20% FBS +/- 0.01 mg/mL bovine insulin as per ATCC.
Many cancer cells have a hormone requirement as they require transcription of hormone drive pathways for proliferation. Some prostate cancer cell lines require testosterone for optimal growth, for example, and some breast cancer cell lines require estrogens. I'm not sure why insulin may (or may not) help OVCAR3s but it could suggest that insulin response element driven gene transcription is required for their optimal growth based on their underlying tumor biology.
Regards
Ned Wiest
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