MCF-10AT: A Model for Human Breast Cancer Development.

A number of lesions, collectively termed Proliferative Breast Disease (PBD), have been associated with high risk of developing breast cancer. Understanding of the natural history of PBD and its relationship to breast cancer progression has been hampered by the lack of an experimental model. MCF-10AT cells are of human, breast epithelial cell origin. They grow as xenografts in immune-incompetent mice where they produce normal-appearing ducts, atypical hyperplasia, carcinoma-in-situ, and invasive carcinoma. Estrogen supplementation of the mice accelerates development of cancer. The MCF-10AT model of PBD offers a new approach to the study of early breast cancer progression and its prevention.