LCC15-MB Cells are MDA-MB-435: A Review of Misidentified Breast and prostate cell lines

Abstract

Current stocks of the LCC15-MB cell line, which we originally isolated from a human breast-bone metastasis, were found to be genetically matched to the MDA-MB-435 cell line from the Lombardi Cancer Center (MDA-MB-435-LCC) using comparative genomic hybridisation, DNA microsatellite analysis and chromosomal number. LCC15-MB stocks used for our previously published studies as well as the earliest available LCC15-MB cells also showed identity to MDA-MB-435-LCC cells. The original karyotype reported for LCC15-MB cells was considerably different to that of MDA-MB-435 cells, indicating that the original LCC15-MB cells were lost to contamination by MDA-MB-435-LCC cells. Chromosome number is the simplest test to distinguish original LCC15-MB cells (n approximately 75) from MDA-MB-435 (n approximately 52). Collectively, our results prove that LCC15-MB cells currently available are MDA-MB-435 cells and we suggest their re-designation as MDA-MB-435-LCC15 cells. We also review the known misclassification of breast and prostate cancer cell lines to date and have initiated a register maintained at http://www.svi.edu.au/cell_lines_registry.doc.

MDA-MB-435 cells are derived from M14 Melanoma cells––a loss for breast cancer, but a boon for melanoma research

“…Since the original observation by Ross et al suggesting that MDA-MD-435 cells might be derived from melanoma rather than breast cancer, there have been several studies published that have sought to address the issue of the provenance of this widely used cell [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. This is more than a simple academic question.…”

“…This phenomenon is unfortunately not uncommon in cell culture systems (reviewed by Thompson et al. [2]). It is important to determine if and when the MDA-MB-435 cell line was misclassified as it has been used extensively as a breast cancer model.…”

“…As shown in Fig. 1, a search of the medical literature for breast cancer studies using the MDA-MB-435 cell line retrieved over 500 manuscripts, with a great many papers still being published (over 65 in the year 2005) that describe the cells as being of breast origin, in spite of the controversy over the provenance of the cell line and the publication of multiple papers that discuss the issue [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. In fact, many investigators with a long history of using the MDA-MB-435 cell line as a breast cancer model have made no mention in their recent papers of the questions surrounding the origin of the cells.…”

Common origins of MDA-MB-435 cells from various sources with those shown to have melonoma properties

“…Comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) analysis CGH was carried out according to methods described in detail elsewhere [14] using the same method as Thompson et al [30]. The cell line and normal DNA samples were labelled during a DOP-PCR reaction, with digoxigenin and biotin and detected indirectly with anti-digoxigenin-fluorescein and avidin-rhodamine [31].…”

“…MCF-7 ADR /NCI/ ADR-RES cells [12], were originally obtained from Dr Ken Cowan, NCI. The MDA-MB-435-LCC15 cells were previously designated LCC15-MB, but were recently shown to be MDA-MB-435-LCC (Thompson et al [30]. PMC42-LA cells [13] were obtained from Dr Leigh Ackland, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.…”