title: MCF-7 cells--changing the course of breast cancer research and care for 45 years.
abstract: It is 45 years since a pleural effusion from a patient with metastatic breast cancer led to the generation of the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. MCF-7 is the most studied human breast cancer cell line in the world, and results from this cell line have had a fundamental impact upon breast cancer research and patient outcomes. But of the authors for the nearly 25000 scientific publications that used this cell line, how many know the unique story of its isolation and development? In this commentary we will review the past, present, and future of research using MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Human Genetics, and Medicine, Women's Cancer Research Center, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (AVL, SO, NED); University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and UPMC Cancer Center, 5150 Center Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA (NED).
authors.forename: Adrian V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Human Genetics, and Medicine, Women's Cancer Research Center, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (AVL, SO, NED); University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and UPMC Cancer Center, 5150 Center Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA (NED).
authors.forename: Steffi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oesterreich
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Human Genetics, and Medicine, Women's Cancer Research Center, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (AVL, SO, NED); University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and UPMC Cancer Center, 5150 Center Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA (NED). davidsonne@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Nancy E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D008824:Michigan; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D065831:Nuns; D010298:Parity; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D017698:Postmenopause; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D035441:Thoracic Wall; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human