MCF7
1
Discover top-quality products tailored for scientific and medical research. Request a personalized quote today
to enhance your projects.
MCF7 is a human breast cancer cell line derived by pleural effusion from a breast cancer patient. It exhibits characteristics similar to differentiated mammary epithelium, including the ability to process estradiol through cytoplasmic estrogen receptors and form domes. These cells express the WNT7B oncogene and insulin-like 
growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP) BP-2, BP-4, and BP-5. The expression of intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) regulates colony formation and cell adhesion via NF-κB control. MCF7 cells are typically slow-growing and appear as loosely attached three-dimensional clusters, sometimes with floating viable cells. They may exhibit delayed attachment until after the first or second subculture, and should be treated as a mixed adherent and suspension cell line. Additionally, the growth of MCF7 cells can be hindered by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha).
Why choose MCF7 from AcceGen?
Choose MCF7 from AcceGen for breast cancer research due to their high quality and viability, sterility. AcceGen offers advanced cryopreservation techniques and maintains rigorous quality control measures, ensuring reliable and consistent performance of the cell line.
| Species | Human |
| Cat.No | ABC-TC0640 |
| Product Category | Tumor Cell Lines |
| Size/Quantity | 1 vial |
| Shipping Info | Dry Ice |
| Growth Conditions | 37 ℃, 5% CO2 |
| Biosafety Level | 1 |
| Storage | Liquid Nitrogen |
| Product Type | Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines |
When you publish your research, please cite our product as “AcceGen Biotech Cat.# XXX-0000”. In return, we’ll give you a $100 coupon. Simply click here and submit your paper’s PubMed ID (PMID).
Oh, Chung-Sik et al. “Effect of equipotent doses of propofol and sevoflurane on endoplasmic reticulum stress during breast cancer surgery.” Korean journal of anesthesiology vol. 75,6 (2022): 487-495. doi:10.4097/kja.21569
FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY
The MCF7 cell line, with its substantial expression of estrogen receptor (ER) alpha, has played a crucial role in breast cancer research, particularly in studying the effects of estrogen. Additionally, MCF-7 cells express androgen, progesterone, and glucocorticoid receptors, allowing researchers to explore other steroid signaling pathways relevant to metastatic breast cancer treatment. The derivation and isolation of MCF-7 cells have led to fundamental advancements in our understanding of breast cancer, making it a cornerstone in studying both response and resistance to ER-targeted therapy.
1. Preparation
Warm the DMEM or RPMI-1640 medium, PBS, and trypsin-EDTA solution to 37°C. Ensure all reagents and equipment are sterile and ready for use.
2. Observation
Place the flask containing MCF7 cells under an inverted microscope. Check for cell confluence (typically, cells should be 70-80% confluent before passaging).
3. Removing Old Medium
In a biosafety cabinet, carefully aspirate the old medium without disturbing the cell monolayer.
4. Rinsing Cells
Add 5-10mL of PBS to the flask to rinse off any residual medium and serum that may inhibit trypsin activity. Gently rock the flask to ensure the cells are thoroughly rinsed, then aspirate the PBS.
5. Adding Trypsin-EDTA
Add enough trypsin-EDTA solution to cover the cell monolayer (typically 1-2mL for a T-75 flask). Gently tilt the flask to ensure the entire surface is covered with trypsin-EDTA.
6. Incubation
Place the flask in the incubator for 3-5 minutes, checking the cells under the microscope periodically. The cells should round up and detach from the surface. Avoid over-trypsinization, which can damage the cells and affect their differentiation state.
7. Neutralizing Trypsin
Once the cells are detached, add 5-10 mL of complete medium (with FBS) to the flask to neutralize the trypsin.
8. Collecting Cells
Gently pipette the cell suspension up and down to ensure all cells are detached and in suspension. Transfer the cell suspension to a 15mL conical tube.
9. Centrifugation
Centrifuge the cell suspension at 200×g for 5 minutes to pellet the cells.
10. Resuspending Cells
Carefully aspirate the supernatant without disturbing the cell pellet. Resuspend the cells in an appropriate volume of fresh complete medium.
11. Seeding New Flasks
Seed the cells into new culture flasks or plates at the desired density. For example, if splitting at a 1:5 ratio, add 1 part of the cell suspension to 4 parts of fresh medium in a new flask. Avoid seeding at too high or too low a density, as this can affect cell growth and differentiation.
12. Incubation
Place the newly seeded flasks or plates back into the incubator set at 37°C with 5% CO2.
13. Monitoring
Observe the cells under the microscope after 24 hours to ensure they have adhered and are spreading out. Change the medium every 2-3 days or as needed.
Tips for Maintaining Differentiation State
Serum Quality: Use high-quality, consistent batches of FBS, as variations can affect cell differentiation.
Gentle Handling: Handle cells gently during trypsinization and resuspension to minimize stress and avoid differentiation.
Consistent Conditions: Maintain consistent culture conditions (temperature, CO2 levels, and medium composition) to prevent stress-induced differentiation changes.
Minimal Passages: Keep the passage number low, as high passage numbers can lead to genetic drift and changes in cell behavior, including differentiation.
Avoid Confluence: Do not allow cells to become overly confluent, as this can lead to differentiation and changes in cell behavior.
To assess the differentiation status of MCF7 cells, a widely used human breast cancer cell line, several key markers can be evaluated. These markers include proteins, receptors, and genes associated with specific cellular functions and phenotypes that indicate differentiation. Here are the key markers and methods to assess the differentiation status of MCF7 cells:
Key Markers
1. Estrogen Receptor (ER)
Description: Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) is a key marker for the luminal subtype of breast cancer, to which MCF7 cells belong.
Assessment: ERα expression can be evaluated using immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blotting, or quantitative PCR (qPCR).
2. Progesterone Receptor (PR)
Description: PR is another important hormone receptor expressed in luminal breast cancer cells, including MCF7 cells.
Assessment: Similar to ER, PR expression can be assessed using IHC, Western blotting, or qPCR.
3. E-Cadherin
Description: E-cadherin is a cell adhesion molecule important for maintaining epithelial cell phenotype and preventing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
Assessment: E-cadherin expression is typically measured by IHC, Western blotting, or qPCR.
4. Cytokeratins (CKs)
Description: Cytokeratins such as CK8 and CK18 are intermediate filament proteins expressed in epithelial cells.
Assessment: Cytokeratin expression can be assessed using IHC, Western blotting, or qPCR.
5. GATA3
Description: GATA3 is a transcription factor involved in maintaining the differentiation of luminal epithelial cells.
Assessment: GATA3 expression can be evaluated using IHC, Western blotting, or qPCR.
For culturing MCF7 cells, a commonly used human breast cancer cell line, the recommended culture medium is Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) supplemented with appropriate additives to support optimal cell growth and maintenance.
