Development and Characterization of a Patient-Derived KIF5B-RET Fusion Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Line for Subcutaneous and Central Nervous System Tumor Models in Immunodeficient Mice.

INTRODUCTION: This study presents the development and characterization of a novel lung adenocarcinoma cell line with kinesin family member 5B rearranged during transfection (KIF5B-RET) fusion, derived from a single patient's pleural effusion. METHODS: A pleural effusion sample was collected from a patient with RET fusion-positive NSCLC. The cell line was developed from the pleural effusion, and its characteristics were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Information on lung cancer cell lines with RET fusions was collected through a literature review. The characteristics of the RET fusion-positive cell line developed were then compared with information on RET fusion-positive cell lines identified in the literature. RESULTS: The newly established PB302 cell line has the following three key characteristics: high sensitivity to selective RET inhibitors, the ability to grow in the central nervous system, and the ability to grow subcutaneously in immunodeficient mice. These features enabled the development of central nervous system disease and subcutaneous tumor models. A comparative analysis revealed that PB302 uniquely possesses these characteristics among RET-positive lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: This cell line highlights several potentials as a tool for preclinical research and drug development.