Distribution of estrogen receptor heterogeneity in growing MCF-7 cells measured by quantitative microscopy.
The existence of interactive subpopulations is a biological feature that can modulate the proliferation of tumor cells. The hormone-responsive breast cancer cell line MCF-7 has been described as heterogeneous in terms of density. In this study we describe a quantitative image analysis methodology that we developed for the in situ detection of different subpopulations in MCF-7 cell cultures. Using this technology, we demonstrate the heterogeneity of the MCF-7 cell line in terms of both nuclear size and estrogen-receptor content. Analysis of the organization (topography) of the different subpopulations in culture reveals a nonrandom distribution of cells. When studying the development of these cell subpopulations as a function of time of culture, we observe modifications of their topography associated with an increase of estrogen-receptor-expressing cells. Moreover, the use of cluster analysis allows study of the local organization of these subpopulations. These changes appear to be independent of cell proliferation.
Palmari
J
J
Département de Physique des Interactions Photons-Maitère, Faculté des Sciences de St. Jérôme, Marseille, France.
Dussert
C
C
Berthois
Y
Y
Penel
C
C
Martin
P M
PM
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen