Innovative tools for breast cancer research and drug discovery

Anti-oestrogen resistant MCF7 and T47D cell lines 

These have been derived from human breast cancer cell lines, MCF7 and T47D which depend on oestrogen for growth and demonstrate resistance to hormone-dependent breast cancer treatments. These anti-oestrogen resistant lines, including the MCF7/TAMR-1 cell line, allow researchers to better understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of resistance. 

Image: MCF7/S0.5 cells stained for oestrogen receptor expression

NCI-HPN-F cell lines with chromosomal abnormalities 

Derived from mouse mammary glands, NCI-HPN-F cell lines demonstrate recurrent chromosomal aneuploidies enabling investigation and identification of tumourigenesis–related cancer-specific genes and signalling pathways. 

Image: Transformed NCI-HPN-F cells. Actin was stained green and DNA was counterstained with an orange pseudo-colour.  Note a binucleated cell (PMD: 22161874).

Immortalised SV40 human breast epithelial cell lines 

Immortalised using SV40, human breast epithelial cell lines are models to study differentiation and phenotypic transformation.

Image: SVCT-MI2 cell line. 24 hours post plating. Image courtesy of the European Collection of Authenticated Cell Cultures (ECACC).

Gene-edited MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines 

Gene-edited MCF7 sgRNA 1 & 2 and MDA-MB-231 sgRNA 1 & 2 cell lines enable the investigation of the breast BRCA1 non mutated and hypermethylated breast cancer tumourigenesis pathways. Both cell lines contain site-specific methylations in the BRCA1 promoter.  

Image: Generation of stable cell line after FACS sorting following transduction of two different lentivirus containing TetO-dCas9-Dnmt3a and sgRNA clones in MDA-MB-231 cells (DOI 10.1101/2022.04.30.490082).

Plasmax™: a physiologically relevant cell culture medium 

Plasmax is a defined cell culture medium that provides a physiologically relevant environment by mirroring the concentration of over 50 components found in human plasma. This media been used to successfully culture three triple-negative breast cancer cell lines, BT549, MDA-MB-468 and CAL-120, by recapitulating the tumour metabolic environment. 

Anti-oestrogen resistant MCF7 and T47D cell lines 

These anti-oestrogen resistant cell lines, as described earlier, offer the potential for developing novel predictive biomarkers for therapy response and an improved understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of resistance, supporting new drug discovery.    

Image: MCF7/S0.5 cells stained for oestrogen receptor expression.

Patient-derived organoid (PDO) models 

Breast cancer organoid, RMAM007-3, derived from a female Japanese patient, faithfully preserves the pathology, genetic, and drug response characteristics of the in vivo source patient tumour. This complex 3D in vitro model can support accurate preclinical breast cancer drug screening.  

Image: Phase-contrast image of breast cancer organoid, RMAM007-3. This image has been provided by the group of Professor Motoki Takagi, Medical-Industrial Translational Center, Fukushima Medical University, Japan.

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models 

PDX models are created by transplanting human tumour tissue into immunodeficient mice. Our collection of breast cancer PDX models includes those from patients affected by the most advanced and lethal forms of breast cancer, such as aggressive, metastatic and treatment resistant subtypes. PDX models are superior in recapitulating patient tumour characteristics including spatial structure, intratumour heterogeneity, genomic features, tumour growth rates, metastatic patterns and drug responses. These highly translatable models can be used to enhance and de-risk preclinical in vivo drug validation.  

Image: Schematic illustrating the establishment of PDX models by grafting tumour tissues from a patient into immunodeficient mice, created with Biorender.

MUC1 mouse model

Tumour associated antigen, MUC1 is aberrantly overexpressed in 90% of human breast cancers and represents a promising therapeutic target for breast cancer. Our MUC1 mouse model can be used for the preclinical study of anti-MUC1 vaccines/immunotherapies.   

Tumour suppressors

Antibodies targeting p53, Retinoblastoma 1 (RB1), and Maspin, all tumour suppressors with key roles in biological processes across different types of tumours including breast cancer tumours. Our collection also features antibodies against PALB2 and BRCA1/2, both tumour suppressors whose pathogenic variants are associated with breast cancer, as well as ovarian and pancreatic cancers. .

Human breast cancer stained with an antibody to Pax-2. Image: Provided by Jason Carroll at the CRI.

Oncogenes

Multiple antibodies targeting the oncogene, c-MYC, a transcription factor of high interest in breast cancer research due to its regulation of key biological processes in the tumour microenvironment, e.g. angiogenesis, tumour evasion, invasion, and migration. 

Image: Omomyc expression in doxycycline treated TREOmomyc;actinrtTa mice.

Tumour associated antigens

Antibodies targeting tumour associated antigens like MUC1, a promising marker for breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis. 

Image: Provided by Alexis Barr at the CRI.