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Table 1 Molecular classification of breast carcinoma

From: Choosing the right cell line for breast cancer research

Classification

Immunoprofile

Other characteristics

Example cell lines (adapted from [13, 22])

Luminal A

ER+, PR+/-, HER2-

Ki67 low, endocrine responsive, often chemotherapy responsive

MCF-7, T47D, SUM185

Luminal B

ER+, PR+/-, HER2+

Ki67 high, usually endocrine responsive, variable to chemotherapy. HER2+ are trastusumab responsive

BT474, ZR-75

Basal

ER-, PR-, HER2-

EGFR+ and/or cytokeratin 5/6+, Ki67 high, endocrine nonresponsive, often chemotherapy responsive

MDA-MB-468, SUM190

Claudin-low

ER-, PR-, HER2-

Ki67, E-cadherin, claudin-3, claudinin-4 and claudinin-7 low. Intermediate response to chemotherapy

BT549, MDA-MB-231, Hs578T, SUM1315

HER2

ER-, PR-, HER2+

Ki67 high, trastusumab responsive, chemotherapy responsive

SKBR3, MDA-MB-453

  1. EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; ER, oestrogen receptor; HER2, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; PR, progesterone receptor.