Medullary Breast Carcinoma
Medullary breast carcinoma (MBC) is a rare, yet clinically distinct subtype of breast cancer, accounting for approximately 1-7% of all invasive breast cancer cases. At Alfa Cytology, our team of experienced biologists work with you to develop MBC therapeutics.
Introduction to Medullary Breast Carcinoma
Traditionally, MBC has been considered an aggressive form of breast cancer, owing to its high nuclear grade and triple-negative receptor status (lacking expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2). However, the clinical course of MBC often defies this expectation. Contrary to the poor prognosis typically associated with triple-negative breast cancer, MBC has been shown to have a favorable overall survival, with 5-year survival rates ranging from 70-90%.
Fig.1 Main histopathology, markers, and signalling pathways of medullary breast carcinoma. (Mahmoud R., et al. 2022)
Therapy Development for Medullary Breast Carcinoma
Traditionally, the management of MBC has relied on standard treatment modalities used for other breast cancer subtypes, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and systemic chemotherapy. However, the unique biological characteristics of MBC have led to the exploration of more targeted and personalized therapeutic strategies.
| Category | Therapeutics | Phase | NCT |
| Combination Therapies | G1T38, a CDK 4/6 Inhibitor, in Combination with Fulvestrant | NCT02983071 | |
| Trastuzumab + Pertuzumab + Vinorelbine, Paclitaxel, Nab-Paclitaxel, Docetaxel, Capecitabine | NCT02229149 | ||
| Targeted Therapy | X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis (XIAP) Antisense AEG35156 | NCT00558545 |
Our Services
Medullary breast carcinoma is a relatively rare disease but malignant. Multiple factors influence prognosis and therapy options. Therefore, Alfa Cytology is working on providing one-stop solutions for medullary breast carcinoma, including but not limited to the following.
MBC Therapy Development
Modeling Services for MBC
If your research requires specialized MBC models, our team can work with you to build novel in vitro and in vivo systems to support our clients' drug discovery and translational research efforts.
| MBC Cell Lines | Animal Models of MBC |
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Case Study
An EO771 Syngeneic Model for Evaluating Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy
- Model Introduction
The EO771 syngeneic model is a critical immunocompetent preclinical tool for studying invasive breast carcinomas. Derived from a spontaneous mammary tumor in a C57BL/6 mouse, the EO771 cell line forms aggressive, poorly differentiated tumors. Its molecular profile—characterized by a basal-like phenotype, mutant p53, and specific metastatic gene signatures—closely mirrors the high-grade pathology and clinical behavior observed in medullary breast carcinoma (MBC), providing a highly relevant model for this distinct and aggressive subtype.
- Model Information
- Model: EO771 Syngeneic Model
- Cancer Type: Breast Cancer (Modeling Medullary Breast Carcinoma, MBC)
- Host Mouse Strain: C57BL/6 Mice
- Age: 6-8 Weeks
- Key Feature: Immunocompetent; models high-grade, aggressive tumor pathology.
- Cell Line Origin: Spontaneous mammary tumor from a C57BL/6 mouse.
- Molecular Profile: Basal-like/Triple-Negative (ERα-nuclear negative, PR-negative, HER2-negative); EGFR-positive; mutant p53.
- Weight: 18-22 g
- Model Construction
The EO771 syngeneic model was established by orthotopically implanting EO771 mouse mammary tumor cells into the mammary fat pads of immunocompetent C57BL/6J female mice. Tumor growth was monitored until it reached approximately 7 mm in diameter, at which point mice were randomized into treatment groups to initiate the efficacy study of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.
- In Vivo Efficacy Evaluation
This case utilized the immunocompetent EO771 syngeneic model to systematically evaluate the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI).
- Effective Response to Anti-PD-1 Therapy: Treatment with anti-PD-1 antibody significantly suppressed primary EO771 tumor growth and markedly improved overall survival compared to the vehicle control group, validating it as an ICI-responsive model (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2 Efficacy evaluation of anti-PD-1 antibody. Graphs show mean values ± SEM (n = 6 control; n = 8 anti-PD-1) treated with anti-PD-1 antibody or PBS. (B) Growth of E0771 tumor, respectively, for individual mice over time. (Source: Alfa Cytology)
Alfa Cytology is committed to the research and study of MBC, from molecular biology services, and cancer biomarker discovery services, to preclinical research services, providing one-stop services. Our cancer experts have many years of experience in the development of the latest therapies for MBC. If you are interested in our service, please contact us.
Reference
- Mahmoud R., Ordóñez-Morán P., Allegrucci C. Challenges for Triple Negative Breast Cancer Treatment: Defeating Heterogeneity and Cancer Stemness. Cancers. 2022, 14, 4280.