MDA-MB-231 cells were derived from a
pleural effusion due to an
adenocarcinoma originating in a 51-year-old caucasian female.[2] The cell line is triple negative, meaning it lacks
oestrogen receptors,
progesterone receptors, and
HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) amplification which many current treatment options rely on making it difficult to cure.[3][4] In addition, this cell line has a low expression of the
Ki-67 proliferation marker, down regulation of
claudin-3 and
claudin-4, enrichment for markers associated with the
epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the
CD44+CD24-/low phenotype associated with breast cancer stem cells and increased metastasis,[5][6][7] and is a mutant in the
p53 and
KRas oncogenes.[8][9] The cells are considered
biosafety level 1. They can be grown in 2 or 3-D cultures.[10]
Research applications
MDA-MB-231 is used to study potential treatments for a cancer with currently limited treatment options by either improving current medication delivery and efficacy,[11][12] or by trying new treatment courses.[13][14]
This cell line has also been utilized to study metastasis to the bones[15][16] and lungs.[16][17]
^Liu H, Zang C, Fenner MH, Possinger K, Elstner E (May 2003). "PPARgamma ligands and ATRA inhibit the invasion of human breast cancer cells in vitro". Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. 79 (1): 63–74.
doi:
10.1023/a:1023366117157.
PMID12779083.
S2CID25517953.
MDA-MB-231 cells were derived from a
pleural effusion due to an
adenocarcinoma originating in a 51-year-old caucasian female.[2] The cell line is triple negative, meaning it lacks
oestrogen receptors,
progesterone receptors, and
HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) amplification which many current treatment options rely on making it difficult to cure.[3][4] In addition, this cell line has a low expression of the
Ki-67 proliferation marker, down regulation of
claudin-3 and
claudin-4, enrichment for markers associated with the
epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the
CD44+CD24-/low phenotype associated with breast cancer stem cells and increased metastasis,[5][6][7] and is a mutant in the
p53 and
KRas oncogenes.[8][9] The cells are considered
biosafety level 1. They can be grown in 2 or 3-D cultures.[10]
Research applications
MDA-MB-231 is used to study potential treatments for a cancer with currently limited treatment options by either improving current medication delivery and efficacy,[11][12] or by trying new treatment courses.[13][14]
This cell line has also been utilized to study metastasis to the bones[15][16] and lungs.[16][17]
^Liu H, Zang C, Fenner MH, Possinger K, Elstner E (May 2003). "PPARgamma ligands and ATRA inhibit the invasion of human breast cancer cells in vitro". Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. 79 (1): 63–74.
doi:
10.1023/a:1023366117157.
PMID12779083.
S2CID25517953.