List of breast cancer cell lines

Breast cancer cell lines are invaluable tools for cancer research, allowing scientists to study the biological mechanisms of breast cancer, test new drugs, and develop new treatment strategies. These cell lines are derived from breast cancer tumors and can be grown indefinitely in the laboratory, providing a consistent and reproducible resource for researchers. This article provides an overview of some of the most commonly used breast cancer cell lines in research.

MCF-7

The MCF-7 cell line is one of the most widely studied and utilized breast cancer cell lines. It was derived from the pleural effusion of a 69-year-old Caucasian woman with metastatic breast cancer. MCF-7 cells are estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), making them a key model for studying hormone-responsive breast cancers. They are used in research focused on hormone therapy and the biology of ER+ breast cancer.

T-47D

T-47D is another important breast cancer cell line, derived from the pleural effusion of a 54-year-old woman with infiltrating ductal carcinoma. These cells are also estrogen receptor-positive and progesterone receptor-positive, providing a valuable model for studying hormone therapy in breast cancer. T-47D cells have been instrumental in understanding the mechanisms of hormone action in breast cancer cells.

MDA-MB-231

The MDA-MB-231 cell line is derived from the pleural effusion of a 51-year-old woman with adenocarcinoma. Unlike MCF-7 and T-47D, MDA-MB-231 cells are triple-negative, meaning they lack estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2/neu gene amplification. This makes them a crucial model for studying triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a subtype that is more difficult to treat due to the absence of these receptors.

BT-474

BT-474 cells were derived from the solid invasive ductal carcinoma of a 60-year-old woman. These cells are characterized by overexpression of the HER2/neu gene, making them a significant model for HER2-positive breast cancer research. BT-474 cells have been extensively used to study the efficacy of HER2-targeted therapies, such as trastuzumab.

SK-BR-3

SK-BR-3 is another breast cancer cell line used to study HER2-positive breast cancer. Derived from the pleural effusion of a 43-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer, SK-BR-3 cells overexpress the HER2/neu gene. They have been pivotal in the development and testing of HER2-targeted treatments.

Conclusion

Breast cancer cell lines are critical tools in the fight against breast cancer, offering insights into the disease's biology and potential treatment strategies. The cell lines mentioned above represent just a fraction of the resources available to researchers, each with its unique properties and applications in breast cancer research. This list is incomplete; you can help WikiMD by expanding it.