Researchers created a feeder-free lab method to grow breast cells by plating tissue samples on coated dishes and using blockers for two signaling pathways (TGFβ and BMP). This technique successfully produced various breast cell types—like stem cells, early-stage progenitors, and mature cells—from both normal and tumor samples. It even worked on tissues from high-risk individuals, such as those with BRCA mutations, and allowed long-term growth for studying breast biology, testing new treatments, and supporting personalized cancer research.
Importantly, this technique worked on tissues from the Komen Tissue Bank, including samples from healthy women, high-risk individuals (like BRCA mutation carriers), and tumor tissue from breast, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers. By enabling researchers to grow real patient cells in the lab, this method supports better study of breast biology, testing of new drugs, and development of personalized treatment options.
