# CYTOKINETICS OF BREAST CANCER SUBPOPULATIONS BY IMAGING

> **NIH NIH R01** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $152,485

## Abstract

Imaging of autoradiographs reveals that heteroploid MCF7 breast cancer
subpopulations distinguished by DNA ploidy show marked differences in their
cell cycle kinetics and phase distributions.  Nuclear distribution of
estrogen receptors and response to estrogen and anti-estrogens is also
heterogeneous and influenced overall by culture density and growth rate.
Accordingly, It is the objective to investigate the distribution of
estrophilin in the various phases of cell cycle of MCF7 ploidy
subpopulations in relation to their cytokinetics and proliferative response
to estrogen and anti-estrogens (Tamoxifen, Nafoxidine, CI-628).  This will
provide a basis for understanding differences in the proliferative pattern
and hormone-dependency of ploidy subpopulations and the extent to which
these are determined by levels of estrogen receptor and their cycle
distribution.  Thus one may gain insight into mechanisms which govern the
ascendancy of specific ploidy subpopulations during tumor growth in
relation to the acquisiton of hormone autonomy.  Automated imaging methods
have been developed for simultaneous determination of the Feulgen-stained
DNA content and grain count of labeled and unlabeled cells in
autoradiographs after 3H- and 14C-thymidine labeling.  The analytic scheme
permits evaluation of the frequencies and proliferative patterns of
discrete subpopulations distinguished by DNA ploidy.  Pre- and
posttreatment kinetics will be determined for MCF7 subpopulations with
respect to 1) their cycle phase distributions, 2) frequencies in the mixed
population, 3) rates of cell turnover in S, G-2 and G-1, 4) cell flux at
the G-1/S, S/G-2 and G-2/M phase boundaries, 5) and their frequencies in
non-cycling compartments.  The methodology is critical in resolving the
frequency and cycle phase distribution of individual subpopulations in such
heteroploid culture systems.  Nuclear estrophilin will be quantitated
densitometrically by imaging of the immunoperoxidase reaction product after
staining with monoclonal antibody (ERICA).  Cells mapped during receptor
analysis will be destained and relocated in Feulgen stained autoradiographs
for determination of DNA ploidy and cytokinetics.  These studies provide a
way of identifying hormone responsive and non-responsive subpopulations in
relation to ploidy and estrogen receptor presence and for evaluating the
effects of receptor modulation as a determinant of their ascendancy and
cell cycle kinetics in asynchronously growing heteroploid cultures.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3177131
- **Project number:** 5R01CA038807-02
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NX9PXMKW5KW8
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT J SKLAREW
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $152,485
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-04-01 → 1989-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3177131

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3177131, CYTOKINETICS OF BREAST CANCER SUBPOPULATIONS BY IMAGING (5R01CA038807-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3177131. Licensed CC0.

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