概要：BT-549 cells were originally isolated from a 72-year-old white female breast cancer patient in 1978.
The patient was diagnosed with a papillary, invasive ductal tumor that had already metastasized to three out of seven regional lymph nodes.
These cells exhibit an epithelial cell morphology, closely resembling the characteristics of breast and mammary gland tissues.
A distinguishing feature of BT-549 cells is their aneuploid nature, characterized by an abnormal chromosome count.
With a modal chromosome number of 78 and a range typically spanning from 73 to 80, these cells display notable abnormalities in the representation of specific chromosomes.
Interestingly, chromosomes N10 and N13 are underrepresented, while chromosomes N2, N12, N17, and N8 deviate from the normal copy numbers.
Additionally, chromosomes N5 and N18 typically exhibit an increased copy number compared to most chromosomes.
Notably, BT-549 cells possess four marker chromosomes: iso(13q), 10q+, del(x)(q22:), and del(11)(p11:).
Their suitability for 3D cell culture applications is an added advantage, allowing researchers to replicate the complex microenvironment of tumors and study drug responses and tumor progression in a more physiologically relevant context.
