Effects of mutant p53 genes on transformation of human mammary epithelial-cells

MCF-10A cells are a spontaneously immortalized, nontransformed human mammary epithelial cell line that contains two normal p53 alleles and produces a normal p53 protein. We have recently shown that overexpression of several genes that are important for normal mammary gland development and for neoplastic transformation, such as transforming growth factor alpha, c-Ha-rns or c-erbB-2, leads to in vitro transformation of these cells (Ciardiello et al: Mol Carcinogen 6: 43-52, 1992). To investigate the neoplastic potential of mutated forms of the p53 gene on MCF-10A cells, we have constructed two expression vector plasmids containing two p53 mutants that were isolated from human primary breast carcinomas. Overexpression of either mutant p53 gene confers on MCF-10A cells the ability to grow in serum-free medium in monolayer culture and to form colonies in semi-solid medium. Furthermore, to determine whether a mutated p53 gene may cooperate with a point mutated c-Ha-ras and/or the normal c-erbB-2 protooncogenes in the transformation of these cells, we generated clones of MCF-10A cells that overexpress a combination of these gene pruducts. Although these cells were able to grow with a higher cloning efficiency in soft agar, none of the cell lines was tumorigenic when injected subcutaneously into immunodeficient mice.