# HUMAN MAMMARY CELLS:  MODULATION OF DIFFERENTIATED STATE

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIF-LAWRENC BERKELEY LAB · 1987 · $205,721

## Abstract

The objective of this proposal is to determine how changes in expression of
properties of normal cell differentiation and maturation are related to the
carcinogenic process in human epithelial cells.  For our purposes, the
stages of maturation and differentiation will be evaluated by glucose
metabolite pattern, synthesis of milk components, presence and cellular
concentration of mammary specific enzymes, synthesis of cytoskeletal
elements, and the synthesis and arrangement of cell surface and
extracellular matrix proteins.  The culture variables to be tested include
medium composition, cell shape and polarity, and the composition of
extracellular matrices.  Comparisons among normal cells, cells autogenic to
normal but transformed in vitro by chemical carcinogen treatment, and cells
grown out from mammary tumors will be used to assess the influence of
carcinogenesis on functional differentiation.  The human mammary epithelial
culture system was chosen for this purpose because:  (1) cells can be grown
out from normal and cancerous tissues in a serum-free medium for 40 to 60
population doublings; (2) large cell pools are available for
experimentation; (3) mammary epithelial cells possess unique properties for
evaluating the functional differentiated state; (4) phenotypic expression
by these cells can be modulated in culture; (5) a progressive series of
cell strains with extended life, continuous cell lines, and malignant
transformants that are autogenic to normal human mammary epithelial cells
are available for study; (6) malignant transformation in epithelial cells
has been related to aberrant expression of normal differentiated states;
and (7) in breast cancer, epidemiological and experimntal evidence point to
a relationship between the risk of cancer and the developmental or
differentiated state.  These studies could provide insights into the sites
for control of normal differentiated function, the factor(s) involved, and
possible sites of aberrant expression in transformation and, thus, provide
a sound basis for investigations in the future into the molecular
mechanisms controlling gene expression in regulating normal functional
differentiation and the aberrations which occur during transformation.  (S)

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3177318
- **Project number:** 5R01CA038889-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIF-LAWRENC BERKELEY LAB
- **SAM.gov UEI:** ENBLDJUN4N73
- **Principal Investigator:** JOHN C BARTLEY
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $205,721
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-07-01 → 1988-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3177318

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3177318, HUMAN MAMMARY CELLS:  MODULATION OF DIFFERENTIATED STATE (5R01CA038889-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3177318. Licensed CC0.

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