Human mammary epithelial cells in culture: differentiation and transformation

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Abstract
The development of human mammary epithelial cell (HMEC) tissue culture systems has permitted these cells to be examined under controlled experimental conditions. Since recourse to in vivo studies is not possible with humans, the fidelity with which the culture system reflects the in vivo situation is particularly important, if the information obtained in vitro is to have meaning for understanding the normal and perturbed functions of the human breast. We describe here our results in developing a system for long term growth of human mammary epithelial cells in monolayer culture [1–4]. While this system is still far from providing an accurate representation of the many different stages of functional differentiation which may occur in the breast, it is a useful beginning to understand control of normal differentiated states, and to examine the multiple steps in the progression from normal to malignantly transformed cells.