A new cell line (8701-BC) from primary ductal infiltrating carcinoma of human breast

A cell line, designated 8701-BC, was established in culture from tissue fragments of primary ductal infiltrating carcinoma of human breast. The cell cultures after the sixth passage were devoid of contaminating fibroblasts as judged by the positive staining of all cells with the specific epithelial cell markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and cytokeratin 8. The epithelial nature of these cells was confirmed by ultrastructural analyses which demonstrated the retention of specific structural properties characteristic of the original tumour. The cells possessed an abnormal karyotype with 55-60 chromosomes per cell with numerous rearrangements. They do not e…