This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by White, A. C. Articles by McGrath, C. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by White, A. C. Articles by McGrath, C. M.

Site-selective Growth of a Hormone-responsive Human Breast Carcinoma in Athymic Mice¹

Department of Tumor Biology, Michigan Cancer Foundation, Detroit, Michigan 48201

MCF-7 is a human breast cancer line which requires estradiol supplementation for growth in s.c. tissues of athymic mice. In order to evaluate the influence of host site on hormone-dependent tumorigenicity and growth, MCF-7 cells were inoculated into tissues varying in ability to concentrate exogenous estradiol. Tumorigenicity was defined in terms of latency, threshold inoculum size, and tumor growth and progression.

We observed that sites such as lung rarely supported MCF-7 tumors. However, moderately estrophilic sites such as mammary fat and adjacent subcutaneum and dermis supported the growth of small MCF-7 tumors from large tumor cell inocula, but only in estrogenized mice. In contrast, the highly estrophilic sites, brain and periuterine tissues, produced rapidly growing tumors from small tumor cell inocula. Only in periuterine tissues did tumors develop in the absence of exogenous estradiol. These studies demonstrate that tumorigenicity and growth rates of estrogen-dependent MCF-7 tumors vary as a function of tissue implantation site.

¹ These studies were supported by Research Grant CA 25482 from the National Cancer Institute.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 4/ 6/81. Accepted 11/16/81.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. Yin, P. Castagnino, and R. K. Assoian ABCG2 Expression and Side Population Abundance Regulated by a Transforming Growth Factor {beta}-Directed Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Cancer Res., February 1, 2008; 68(3): 800 - 807. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. P. Hill Identifying Cancer Stem Cells in Solid Tumors: Case Not Proven Cancer Res., February 15, 2006; 66(4): 1891 - 1896. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Tellez, M. McCarty, M. Ruiz, and M. Bar-Eli Loss of Activator Protein-2{alpha} Results in Overexpression of Protease-activated Receptor-1 and Correlates with the Malignant Phenotype of Human Melanoma J. Biol. Chem., November 21, 2003; 278(47): 46632 - 46642. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]