Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a breast cancer (BC) subtype that accounts for approximately 15–20% of all BC cases. Cancer cell lines (CLs) provide an efficient way to model the disease. We have recently isolated a patient-derived triple-negative BC CL MFUM-BrTNBC-1 and performed a detailed morphological and molecular characterisation and a comprehensive comparison with three commercial BC CLs (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-453). Light and fluorescence microscopy were used for morphological studies; immunocytochemical staining for hormone receptor, p53 and Ki67 status; RNA sequencing, qRT-PCR and STR analysis for molecular characterisation; and biomedical image analysis for comparative phenotypical analysis. The patient tissue-derived MFUM-BrTNBC-1 maintained the primary triple-negative receptor status. STR analysis showed a stable and unique STR profile up to the 6th passage. MFUM-BrTNBC-1 expressed EMT transition markers and displayed changes in several cancer-related pathways (MAPK, Wnt and PI3K signalling; nucleotide excision repair; and SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling). Morphologically, MFUM-BrTNBC-1 differed from the commercial TNBC CL MDA-MB-231. The advantages of MFUM-BrTNBC-1 are its isolation from a primary tumour, rather than a metastatic site; good growth characteristics; phenotype identical to primary tissue; complete records of origin; a unique identifier; complete, unique STR profile; quantifiable morphological properties; and genetic stability up to (at least) the 6th passage.
Highlights
Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide as of 2020
These subtypes can be distinguished based on several factors, including histological grade, type and size of the tumour, lymph node metastasis and expression of oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)
MFUM-BrTNBC-1 showed a predominantly round appearance, characterised by the cells coalescing into colonies shaped from round to polygonal
Summary
Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide as of 2020. It is a heterogeneous disease with many subgroups [1,2]. CLs mirror the original tumours from which they were derived, making them valuable tools for studying molecular aberrations and molecular pathways [14] With regard to the latter, CLs provide an opportunity to gain further information about the pathophysiology of TNBC and the efficacy of its pharmacotherapeutic treatment [15]. These in vitro model systems are used in various scientific and medical fields, especially in basic cancer research and drug discovery [16,17,18,19,20]. The potential advantages of CLs, in the development of functional disease models, cannot be overlooked [17]
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