Proliferation of cultivated cells from normal, preneoplastic and neoplastic human breast tissue--preliminary report.

The success of cultivation of epithelial cells from normal, neoplastic and preneoplastic tissues is reviewed. MCDB 170 medium with special supplements is useful for epithelial cell culture. The epithelial character was demonstrated by the reaction with 3 different monoclonal antibodies. Most cell populations from preneoplastic and neoplastic tissues were identified as fibroblasts. Cell proliferation as measured by cell doubling time, labeling index, flow cytometry did not differ between the tissue types examined. Only 3H-thymidine uptake showed an increased tendency in cells from preneoplastic and neoplastic tissues. The use of normal human breast epithelial cells for molecular biological studies is recommended.