Afro-Caribbean breast cancer cell lines studies
Women of African ancestry develop more aggressive breast cancer (BCa) with poorer survival outcomes, yet only 8% of available cell lines represent this population, limiting progress in targeted treatment development. Here, we aimed to establish and characterize new cell lines from an Afro-Caribbean patient to better understand population-specific BCa biology. We developed three lines (ACRJ-BC24 parent, alpha, and beta) from a patient with 100% African ancestry. Karyotype analysis revealed progressive chromosomal instability, with the beta clone showing X-11 translocations associated with higher Ki-67 expression and increased tumorigenic capacity. Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting demonstrated a transition from hormone-positive to triple-negative phenotypes. Transcriptional profiling identified significant enrichment in extracellular matrix organization pathways mechanistically linked to chromosomal instability, explaining their distinct drug responses. The beta clone's enhanced sensitivity to PARP inhibitors correlates with its chromosomal abnormalities, while the parent line's sensitivity to gemcitabine may relate to ECM-mediated regulation of nucleoside transporters. These lines provide valuable tools for studying BCa disparities.