There are various cell lines in literature from different cell collections (ATCC, DSMZ, etc.) or personal donations extracted from patients or just a gift from a generous researcher. However, not all these cell lines are available for every researcher around the world. For instance, some may decide to work on 4 different breast cancer cell lines (on the basis of a similar study) corresponding to 4 different stages/grades; 3 of these cell lines can be purchased from cell banks, but one is not accessible. In such a case, is it rational to use an alternative/substitute for that missing cell line? For example, BT-549 (Epithelial, mammary gland, ductal carcinoma) can be replaced by BT-474 in a panel of 4 breast cancer cell lines? Thus, which critical factors influence the choice of such alternative?
Putting in another word, for modeling purposes, utilizing genome-wide expression profiles and high-throughput data is crucial (simply because it is not possible for everyone to run such experiments), thereby, using the same (similar?) cell line panel (such as 4 cancer cell lines in different stages) is needed for new hypothesis based on previous studies. Therefore, is it rational to choose another cell line similar to those used in literature? If yes, which factors should be considered?
Thanks in advance, and apologies excess circumlocution!
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Dear Oveis,
The choise depends on what you want investigate. If you can explain your purpouse, I can give my opinion better.
Dear Marcella,
Thanks for your response. In fact, my purpose is quite similar to the example I explained above. There is a key research on metabolic alterations in breast cancer utilizing a panel of 4 cancer cell lines in 4 different stages (stage II, III, precancerous and pleural effusion cells). Unfortunately, one of these cells is not available here (or cannot be purchased from abroad); so, in such a case, is it possible to replace this cell with another one (in the same stage)? If yest, which parameters should be taken into account.
Many factors may influent the cell lines you choose. Since 1 of the 4 cell lines are not available to you, you may want to contact the labs who has the missing cell line to see if they can share some with you. People are very generous especially from the labs who has published data in Science, Nature, or PNAS. After you exhausted that option, you can try to find a cell line having similar stage and metastatic ability to your missing cell line. Good luck!
Dear Ying,
Thanks for your response. I will definitely do that. Nevertheless, stage and metastatic ability would be enough to perform a new hypothesis based on a similar work? Or, cell morphology and even the age of patient are also important? In fact, metabolic distribution of cells can depend on a myriad of factors.
Principal features to choice a cell line depends on of your interest, the kind of model and method that you have to do the analysis. Is it an animal or in vitro model, the metastatic profile is nedded, the gen and/or phenotype expression are very important considerations? If you has in both cell types the same features is excelente, if you don,t, sometimes you should be use more than one type.
Most of the cancer characteristics from the patients are lost in established cell lines.
I would advice you to contact Michael P. Lisanti (who is registered on RG).
Be seated when you will see his profile on RG ...
He knows exactly what means "breast cancer cell lines" and how to make the right choice.
Best regards
Robert
Dear Robert,
Thanks for your advice, I will do contact him.
Kindly regards.
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