SNU-398 was derived in 1990 by J.-G. Park and associates from an anaplastic hepatocellular carcinoma taken from a Korean patient who had been treated by transcatheter arterial embolization with lipoidol plus a combination of doxorubicin and mitomycin-C.

Tumor cells were initially cultured in ACL-4 medium supplemented with 5% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum. After establishment, cultures were maintained in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% heat inactivated fetal bovine serum.

Grossly, the original tumor was single nodular with perinodular extensions.

Histologically, it was trabecular type.

The cultured cells are multinucleated, and maintain the production of intracytoplasmic hyaline globules as seen in the original tumor.

1. This is a cell line that grows as both attached and suspended cells. The suspended cells are viable and should not be discarded. Recover the suspended cells by gentle centrifugation (125 x g) for subculture along with the adherent cell population.
2. To dissociate adherent cells, briefly rinse the cell layer with 0.25% (w/v) Trypsin-0.53 mM EDTA solution to remove all traces of serum that contains trypsin inhibitor.
3. Add 2.0 to 3.0 mL of Trypsin-EDTA solution to flask and observe cells under an inverted microscope until cell layer is dispersed (usually within 5 to 15 minutes).
   Note: To avoid clumping do not agitate the cells by hitting or shaking the flask while waiting for the cells to detach. Cells that are difficult to detach may be placed at 37°C to facilitate dispersal.
4. Add 6.0 to 8.0 mL of complete growth medium and aspirate cells by gently pipetting.
5. Add appropriate aliquots of the cell suspension to new culture vessels.
6. Incubate cultures at 37°C

Park JG, et al. Characterization of cell lines established from human hepatocellular carcinoma. Int. J. Cancer 62: 276-282, 1995. PubMed: 7543080