Characterization of UMD227 cells: a novel murine mammary cancer cell line.

Abstract

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, which makes it a challenging disease to treat. Breast cancer can be classified by histology as well as by molecular markers. In order to develop a relevant in vitro model, our lab has cloned and isolated a cell line, UMD227, from a mammary tumor of our mouse model which expresses transforming growth factor alpha under control of promoter, neu-related lipocalin (NRL-TGFα). When UMD227’s are transplanted back into our mouse model the resulting UMD227 tumors exhibit a higher grade than the primary tumor from which the cell line was derived and tumors following transplant have a distinct spindle cell like morphology, suggesting mesenchymal like characteristics. These characteristics suggest that this cell line represents basal-like tumor characteristics. My hypothesis was that the UMD227 cell line is a model of basal-like breast cancer. I began by determining the biological response of UMD227 cells to estrogens and antiestrogens in vitro and evaluation of marker proteins that distinguish mature differentiated epithelial cells from cells undergoing epithelial mesenchymal transition from progenitor/stem cells. My research concludes that the UMD227 cells are basal-like mammary gland cancer cells.