Using breast cancer cells to teach students about cell division and signaling through cell culture techniques: a simple lab module (618.27)

Abstract

We have developed a lab activity to teach the concepts of cell division, cellular communication and cancer, through application of proper animal cell culture techniques, to sophomore level biology majors. The lab module exploits the mouse mammary tumor cell line, MMT, as a model for breast cancer. Breast cancer, a disease involving unregulated cell proliferation, represents the second leading cause of cancer death in women. The drugs tamoxifen, curcumin, and NDGA are used routinely to treat female breast cancer. In this experiment, these three antiproliferative drugs are tested on MMT cells. Concentration of the drugs and length of the treatments are varied allowing students to determine the impact of these treatments on the rate of cell division. Students determine the best cell concentration for plating and growing cells, the optimal treatment time course, how to prepare and dilute drug solutions, and the rate of cell death vs cell division using simple cell counting protocols. The procedure lends to open‐ended inquiry as students can modify the protocol via testing over‐the‐counter cancer treatments. This lab module allows undergraduate students to understand cancer and how it can be treated, study cell receptors, signaling pathways, and cell division, and become acquainted with the concepts of cell culture.Grant Funding Source: Marymount Manhattan College Faculty Science Award