ESTABLISHMENT OF BREAST CELL-CULTURES AND LINES FROM PEOPLES OF AFRICAN ORIGIN

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to establish breast epithelia l cell cultures and cell lines from peoples of African origin (blacks) . It is presumed that the biology of breast cancer in women of African origin has unique aspects that can be explored using cultured breast epithelial cells. STUDY DESIGN: Biopsy specimens were obtained from bl ack women undergoing radical or modified mastectomies. Normal cell cul tures were established using tissue from reduction mammaplasties or th e milk of lactating mothers. The tissue specimens were lacerated, dige sted with collagenase solution, and plated on tissue culture plates. T o extend the life of the epithelial cells in culture, they are transfo rmed with SV40 virus. RESULTS: We have maintained breast tumor cells i n culture from a 27-year-old black woman for more than 1 month. CONCLU SION: Despite the difficulty of establishing epithelial cell cultures, we have maintained breast tumor cells from blacks in culture for an e xtended period to allow characterization.