Molecular Cytogenomic Characterization of the Murine Breast Cancer Cell Lines C-127I, EMT6/P and TA3 Hauschka

Abstract

<jats:p>Background: To test and introduce effective and less toxic breast cancer (BC) treatment strategies, animal models, including murine BC cell lines, are considered as perfect platforms. Strikingly, the knowledge on the genetic background of applied BC cell lines is often sparse though urgently necessary for their targeted and really justified application. Methods: In this study, we performed the first molecular cytogenetic characterization for three murine BC cell lines C-127I, EMT6/P and TA3 Hauschka. Besides fluorescence in situ hybridization-banding, array comparative genomic hybridization was also applied. Thus, overall, an in silico translation for the detected imbalances and chromosomal break events in the murine cell lines to the corresponding homologous imbalances in humans could be provided. The latter enabled a comparison of the murine cell line with human BC cytogenomics. Results: All three BC cell lines showed a rearranged karyotype at different stages of complexity, which can be interpreted carefully as reflectance of more or less advanced tumor stages. Conclusions: Accordingly, the C-127I cell line would represent the late stage BC while the cell lines EMT6/P and TA3 Hauschka would be models for the premalignant or early BC stage and an early or benign BC, respectively. With this cytogenomic information provided, these cell lines now can be applied really adequately in future research studies.</jats:p>

Cytogenomic characterization of three murine malignant mesothelioma tumor cell lines

“…mFISH using whole chromosome painting probes revealed the general characteristics of the cell lines, like the ploidy, clonal and nonclonal changes as well as numerical and intrachromosomal structural aberrations. By mcb interchromosomal alterations as duplications, deletions or inversions, and chromosomal breakpoints involved could be uncovered, as previously reported [23][24][25][26][27][28]. The aCGH data was aligned with the FISH results and also used to determine breakpoints of unbalanced rearrangements (Additional file 1: Table 1).…”

Cytogenomic characteristics of murine breast cancer cell line JC

“…Accordingly, especially murine tumor cell lines are favorite model systems to perform basic research studies, as well as such towards testing of new medications [ 8 , 33 ]. Our group characterized already several murine tumor cell lines by the same test strategy as applied here, and thus delivered previously not available but urgently necessary genetic basic data, including chromosome numbers, observable breakpoints and copy number changes [ 1 , 16 , 17 , 19 , 34 , 35 ]. Here a commercially available murine BC-cell line was characterized for the first time, cell line JC, which was yet rarely used in research.…”

“…Breast cancer (BC) is considered to be one of the most aggressive human cancer forms and is leading among cancer-related deaths, especially in females. Survival rates vary across countries depending on diagnostic regimens, awareness of and possibilities to treat this disease [ 1 , 2 ]. Factors like advanced age, low estrogen-levels, family history of cancer, and certain adverse gene mutations, as well as lifestyle influence incidence of this cancer type [ 2 , 3 ].…”

“…BC biomarkers include oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes (TCGs), as well as their and related gene-products. Immunohistochemical markers for tumor cell surface or plasma, as well as for growth in this context are estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (ERBB2/ HER-2) and epidermal growth factor receptor, cytokeratin 5 and/or nuclear protein Ki67 expression [ 1 , 7 ]. Based on such expression profiles BC can be classified in (1) luminal A-like, (2) luminal B-like (HER2-positive or HER2-negative), (3) HER2-overexpressing, and (4) triple-negative subtypes [ 4 , 7 ].…”

“…approached by including animal, especially murine models, in research to study biological pathways of BC and BC progression [ 10 – 12 ]. Even though murine cell lines are applied in ample research, still most of them are not characterized in detail genetically [ 1 ]. This is also valid for the here studied BC cell line JC, which was established in 1978 from a murine BC, developing spontaneously in a 1.5 years old female BALB/c mouse [ 13 ].…”