title: [Heterogeneity of human breast cancer cells and their biological behavior].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the heterogeneity of human breast cancer cells, their influence on biological behavior of tumor cells and clinical implications.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subpopulations of MCF-7 breast cancer cells were isolated by Percoll gradient centrifugation. DNA content and cell cycle distribution were detected with flow cytometry. Tumor chemosensitivity analysis was performed with MTT assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heterogeneity was observed in DNA content and cell cycle distribution among four subpopulations of breast cancer cells, which were related to their proliferation ability and chemosensitivity results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hereditary instability and intrinsic characteristics of most tumor cells, not only lead to tumor progression and heterogeneity but also cause the loss of monoclonality and the generation of subclones. Further study on some profiles of tumor heterogeneity such as DNA content, cell cycle distribution and their influence on tumor proliferation and chemosensitivity may very well improve the clinical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Medical Center for Tumor Detection, Cancer Institute (Hospital), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
authors.forename: Hai-mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Dong-yan
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jie-xiu
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chang-jun
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Dong-mei
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Mo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Zhao-yang
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002455:Cell Division; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm