Expression of the mts1 Gene Increases
Malignancy of Human Mammary Adenocarcinoma
Cell Line MCF-7

M. S. Grigoryan^1,2, N. S. Ambartsumyan², G. P. Georgiev¹, and E. M. Lukanidin^1,2

¹ Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117984 Russia
² Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark;
E-mail: el@bio.cancer.dk

Received April 10, 1998; in final form, February 15, 1999

Abstract—Expression of mts1 is known to significantly enhance the metastatic spreading of several mouse car-
cinomas. This effect was studied with human mammary adenocarcinoma cell line MCF-7. Transplanted in nude
mice, MCF-7 cells cause benign tumors displaying neither invasion nor metastasizing. Transfection with a con-
struct containing mts1 under the control of a potent constitutive promoter resulted in synthesis of mts1 mRNA
and Mts1 protein in MCF-7 cells. MCF-7/mts1 cells showed higher malignancy and induced tumors in nude
mice even when injected subcutaneously, whereas only intramammary grafting of intact MCF-7 resulted in
tumorigenesis. With MCF-7/mts1, the efficiency of grafting and tumorigenesis were estrogen-independent;
tumors grew aggressively, invaded neighboring muscle and adipose tissue, and metastasized in regional lymph
nodes and lungs. Thus, expression of mts1 was associated with progression of human carcinoma.

Key words: malignant growth, MCF-7 cells, mts1 gene, nude mice

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