Authenticated Breast Cancer Cell Lines for Cancer Research

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women and a leading cause of death due to cancer. It starts as a localized tumor, but can metastasize to distant sites and cause mortality. Breast cancers are heterogeneous and pose challenges for diagnosis and treatment. Especially challenging are so-called triple negative breast cancers, or those in which the tumor does not express the three types of receptors most closely associated with breast cancer growth–estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2/neu and which do not respond to any hormonal therapies¹.

Types of Breast Cancer

Ductal and lobular carcinomas are two types of breast cancers named for their tissues of origin. Based on the presence of receptors they are classified into hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive, and triple-negative cancers.

Risk factors

Age is the major risk factor for breast cancer, where incidence increases with advancing age. Increased exposure to estrogen during menses at a young age, and first pregnancy at an older age are other important risk factors².

Mutations

Commonly mutated genes in breast cancer include PIK3CA, TP53, MED12, GATA3, and PTEN. However, mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 alone account for half of familial inherited breast cancer cases, and may additionally place individuals carrying these mutations at higher risk for other malignancies including ovarian cancer.

Select cell lines by genetic mutation from the table below and click genes to find relevant products (antibodies, shRNA, siRNA, primers, CRISPR plasmids) for your research study.

Small Molecules/Monoclonal Antibodies

Small molecule compounds and antibodies can be used to target cancer cells and block tumor growth and progression. There are various small molecule compounds and antibodies that can target breast cancer based on stage and type of tumor.

Types of targeted breast cancer drugs include:

• Monoclonal antibodies (Trastuzumab, Pertuzumab)
• Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Lapatinib)
• Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (Palbociclib, Ribociclib)
• mTOR inhibitors (Everolimus).

In addition, investigations of poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are underway to target triple negative breast cancers³.

Applications

Cancer cell lines are the foundation for cancer research. They have been extensively used in countless studies because they are easy to use and cost-effective. Based on the characteristics of the cell line and experimental need, cell lines may be used in one or more applications.