Sister chromatid exchanges and proliferation kinetics of human metastatic breast tumor cells lines
Reisbach, G.; Gebhart, E.; Cailleau, R.
Anticancer Research 2(4): 257-260
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0250-7005 PMID: 7149656 Document Number: 196417
The rate of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and the profiles of proliferation (= number of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cycle metaphases distinguishable by their staining patterns after BrDU [5-bromodeoxyuridine] substitution for 1, 2 or 3 rounds of DNA replication) were estimated in 3 metastatic human breast tumor cell lines. Line MDA MB 231 exhibited SCE rates equalling the level of normal cells, while line MDA MB 435 exhibited a slight increase, and line MDA MB 468 a more distinct increase of the SCE rate over the baseline frequency of normal cells. By the BrDU labeling technique the lines 231 and 435 were rather fast proliferating in culture, while the line 468, and even more the lines 330 and 361 showed a much slower proliferation pattern. Increased SCE rates are apparently rather a facultative than an obligatory feature of malignant cells. The BrDU-labeling technique might be suitable for gaining additional information on proliferation characteristics of tumor cell lines.