title: Isolation and characterization of an oestrogen-responsive breast-cancer cell line, EFF-3.
abstract: A novel oestrogen-responsive breast-tumour cell line, EFF-3, has been established from a pleural exudate of a patient with metastatic breast cancer. The cells show morphological and immunohistochemical features consistent with their origin from a metastatic breast carcinoma. The cells aggregate and form sheets in culture, and electron microscopy confirms the presence of cell-surface microvilli and intercellular tight junctions. The epithelial origin of EFF-3 cells was confirmed by their expression of low-molecular-weight cytokeratins and carcinoembryonic antigen. The karyotype of the cells is markedly abnormal and there are large numbers of structurally abnormal chromosomes. EFF-3 cells express oestrogen receptor, oestrogen-receptor mRNA, their growth is oestrogen-responsive, and specific genes are regulated by oestrogens. The pNR-2/pS2 and pNR-25 oestrogen-regulated mRNAs are induced 15- and 13-fold respectively by oestrogen, whereas the oestrogen-receptor and cathepsin D mRNAs are not regulated. This pattern of regulation differs from that reported previously for other cell lines. The EFF-3 cell line should be useful for studying the mechanisms involved in oestrogen-stimulated proliferation and the factors determining the regulation of specific genes by oestrogens.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Pathology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Healicon
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Westley
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: May
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007621:Karyotyping; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000473:pathology; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D004967:Estrogens; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen