| Cell culture and cell banking | The TCBSR provides assistance with growing, expanding and banking cells. It also assists with shipping and receiving cells to and from collaborators outside LCCC. |
| Establishing primary epithelial cell cultures from normal and tumor tissues using conditional reprogramming of cells | The generation of new conditionally reprogrammed cell cultures allows indefinite propagation of adult mammalian epithelial cells. A large collection of existing cultures is available from the laboratory. |
| B-cell transformation with EBV | This service has been available at the TCBSR since 1997. The TCBSR was primarily established to facilitate studies on subjects with a genetic predisposition to cancer by providing a limitless supply of cells for genetic studies. Its success rate is greater than 98%. |
| Repository of established cell lines | The TCBSR maintains a repository of established cancer cell lines (currently 375). An investigator can obtain a frozen vial or a flask with growing cells. |
| Cell pellets | Panels of cell pellets from the LCCC collection of established cell lines are available for screening assays to allow investigators to determine if a given cell line will be useful for their studies without having to grow the cells. |
| Mycoplasma testing | A luminescence-based mycoplasma assay (MycoAlert mycoplasma detection kit from Lonza), which is capable of detecting more than 40 species, is used. |
| Cell line authentication | The commercially available PowerPlex 16 System (Promega) is used. Sixteen loci (15 short tandem repeat [STR] loci and Amelogenin for gender identification) are tested. The loci collectively provide a genetic profile with a random match probability greater than 1 in 1.83 × 1017. |
| Cryostorage | Sixteen liquid nitrogen freezers are available for investigators to store their reagents. The freezers are checked daily and electronically monitored 24/7 (ciSmart). |
| Tissue culture reagents | Samples of tissue culture reagents (e.g., fetal bovine serum [FBS] and charcoal stripped serum) from vendors are tested to determine the best lots. Large quantities are then purchased and made available at cost to investigators. |
| Shared tissue culture space and shared equipment | Three shared tissue culture laboratories that are equipped, maintained and monitored by the TCBSR are available to LCCC researchers. A quarantine laboratory to grow cells of unknown mycoplasma status until verified to be contamination free also is available. |
| Training and advice | The TCBSR offers formal training in the basic principles of tissue culture with hands-on experience. Advice and assistance are provided on a walk-in basis. |
