MCF7
Encyclopedia
MCF-7 is a breast cancer
cell line isolated in 1970 from a 69-year-old Caucasian woman. MCF-7 is the acronym of Michigan Cancer Foundation - 7, referring to the institute in Detroit where the cell line was established in 1973 by Herbert Soule and co-workers . The Michigan Cancer Foundation is now known as the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.
Prior to MCF-7, it was not possible for cancer researchers to obtain a mammary cell line that was capable of living longer than a few months.
The patient, whose name is unknown to the vast majority of cancer researchers, died in 1970. Her cells were the source of much of current knowledge about breast cancer . Her name was Frances Mallon and, at the time of sampling, she was a nun in the convent of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Monroe, Michigan
) under the name of Sister Catherine Frances.
MCF-7 and two other breast cancer cell lines, named T-47D et MDA-MB-231, account for more
than two-thirds of all abstracts reporting studies on mentioned BCC lines, as concluded from a Medline
-based survey .
Based on references .
This cell line retained several characteristics of differentiated mammary epithelium including the ability to process estradiol
via cytoplasmic estrogen receptors and the capability of forming domes.
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) inhibits the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
Treatment with anti-estrogens can modulate the secretion of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins.
PIK3CA helical mutations were identified in MCF-7, but with low AKT activation (http://www.sanger.ac.uk/genetics/CGP/cosmic/).
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
cell line isolated in 1970 from a 69-year-old Caucasian woman. MCF-7 is the acronym of Michigan Cancer Foundation - 7, referring to the institute in Detroit where the cell line was established in 1973 by Herbert Soule and co-workers . The Michigan Cancer Foundation is now known as the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.
Prior to MCF-7, it was not possible for cancer researchers to obtain a mammary cell line that was capable of living longer than a few months.
The patient, whose name is unknown to the vast majority of cancer researchers, died in 1970. Her cells were the source of much of current knowledge about breast cancer . Her name was Frances Mallon and, at the time of sampling, she was a nun in the convent of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Monroe, Michigan
Monroe, Michigan
Monroe is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,733 at the 2010 census. It is the largest city and county seat of Monroe County. The city is bordered on the south by Monroe Charter Township, but both are politically independent. The city is located approximately 14 miles ...
) under the name of Sister Catherine Frances.
MCF-7 and two other breast cancer cell lines, named T-47D et MDA-MB-231, account for more
than two-thirds of all abstracts reporting studies on mentioned BCC lines, as concluded from a Medline
MEDLINE
MEDLINE is a bibliographic database of life sciences and biomedical information. It includes bibliographic information for articles from academic journals covering medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and health care...
-based survey .
Characteristics of MCF-7 cells
- Primary tumor: invasive breastBreastThe breast is the upper ventral region of the torso of a primate, in left and right sides, which in a female contains the mammary gland that secretes milk used to feed infants.Both men and women develop breasts from the same embryological tissues...
ductal carcinomaCarcinomaCarcinoma is the medical term for the most common type of cancer occurring in humans. Put simply, a carcinoma is a cancer that begins in a tissue that lines the inner or outer surfaces of the body, and that generally arises from cells originating in the endodermal or ectodermal germ layer during... - Origin of cells : pleural effusionPleural effusionPleural effusion is excess fluid that accumulates between the two pleural layers, the fluid-filled space that surrounds the lungs. Excessive amounts of such fluid can impair breathing by limiting the expansion of the lungs during ventilation.-Pathophysiology:...
- Presence of estrogen receptorEstrogen receptorEstrogen receptor refers to a group of receptors that are activated by the hormone 17β-estradiol . Two types of estrogen receptor exist: ER, which is a member of the nuclear hormone family of intracellular receptors, and the estrogen G protein-coupled receptor GPR30 , which is a G protein-coupled...
s : yes - Proliferative response to estrogens : yes
- Presence of progesterone receptorProgesterone receptorThe progesterone receptor also known as NR3C3 , is an intracellular steroid receptor that specifically binds progesterone...
s : yes - ERBB2 gene amplification (with Her2/neuHER2/neuHER-2 also known as proto-oncogene Neu, receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2, CD340 or p185 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ERBB2 gene. Over expression of this gene is correlated with higher aggressiveness in breast cancers...
protein overexpression) : no - Tumorigenicity in mice : yes, but only with estrogenEstrogenEstrogens , oestrogens , or œstrogens, are a group of compounds named for their importance in the estrous cycle of humans and other animals. They are the primary female sex hormones. Natural estrogens are steroid hormones, while some synthetic ones are non-steroidal...
supplementation - Phenotype : luminal epithelial
Based on references .
This cell line retained several characteristics of differentiated mammary epithelium including the ability to process estradiol
Estradiol
Estradiol is a sex hormone. Estradiol is abbreviated E2 as it has 2 hydroxyl groups in its molecular structure. Estrone has 1 and estriol has 3 . Estradiol is about 10 times as potent as estrone and about 80 times as potent as estriol in its estrogenic effect...
via cytoplasmic estrogen receptors and the capability of forming domes.
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) inhibits the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
Treatment with anti-estrogens can modulate the secretion of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins.
PIK3CA helical mutations were identified in MCF-7, but with low AKT activation (http://www.sanger.ac.uk/genetics/CGP/cosmic/).