A new cell line (8701-BC) from primary ductal infiltrating carcinoma of human breast.

A cell line, designated 8701-BC, was established in culture from tissue fragments of primary ductal infiltrating carcinoma of human breast. The cell cultures after the sixth passage were devoid of contaminating fibroblasts as judged by the positive staining of all cells with the specific epithelial cell markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and cytokeratin 8. The epithelial nature of these cells was confirmed by ultrastructural analyses which demonstrated the retention of specific structural properties characteristic of the original tumour. The cells possessed an abnormal karyotype with 55-60 chromosomes per cell with numerous rearrangements. They do not express HLA antigens and the c-myc gene was not amplified. The 8701-BC cells have a doubling time of approx. 29h and have been maintained in culture for more than 100 passages. These properties suggest the establishment of a human neoplastic cell line which, with its ability to produce homotrimer collagen in vitro, will provide a useful model system for the study of tumour cell:stromal matrix interactions.