MCF-7

MCF-7 is the name of the line of tumoral cells mammaires the most used in the research laboratories on the Breast cancer. Thus, it is mentioned in more than one third of the scientific articles bringing back of work on tumoral lines mammaires (see PubMed. With two other current lines, called T-47D and MDA-MB-231, it represents the two-thirds of these articles. MCF-7 is the acronym of Michigan Cancer Foundation - 7 , in reference to the institute of Strait where the line was established - with the seventh test, in 1973, by Herbert Soule and colleagues.

Line MCF-7 was established in culture from épanchement pleural taken in vitro in patient a 69 year old reached of a metastatic breast cancer. This patient, whose name is ignored vast majority of the researchers in cancerology, died in 1970. Its cells were at the origin of a good part of current knowledge on breast cancer. She was called Frances Mallon, and was at the time of the nun taking away to the convent of the Immaculate Heart of Marie (Immaculate Heart off Mary Convent, Monroe, Michigan), under the name of Sœur Catherine Frances.

Characteristics of the line

• primary Tumor: canal invasive

• Origin of the cells: épanchement pleural
• Presence of receiving of estrogens: yes
• proliferative Answer to the estrogens: yes
• Presence of progesterone receiving: yes
• Amplification of gene ERBB2 (Her2/neu): not
• Change in gene TP53, coding the protein P53: not (" sauvage" type;)
• Tumorigénicité in the mouse: yes, realizing supplementation in estrogens
• Category of phenotype: luminal epithelial