Molecular, Cellular, and Technical Aspects of Breast Cancer Cell Lines as a Foundational Tool in Cancer Research.

Breast cancer comprises about 30% of all new female cancers each year and is the most common malignant cancer in women in the United States. Breast cancer cell lines have been harnessed for many years as a foundation for in vitro analytic studies to understand the use of cancer prevention and therapy. There has yet to be a compilation of works to analyze the pitfalls, novel discoveries, and essential techniques for breast cancer cell line studies in a scientific context. In this article, we review the history of breast cancer cell lines and their origins, as well as analyze the molecular pathways that pharmaceutical drugs apply to breast cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Controversies regarding the origins of certain breast cancer cell lines, the benefits of utilizing Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) versus Cell-Derived Xenograft (CDX), and 2D versus 3D cell culturing techniques will be analyzed. Novel outcomes from epigenetic discovery with dietary compound usage are also discussed. This review is intended to create a foundational tool that will aid investigators when choosing a breast cancer cell line to use in multiple expanding areas such as epigenetic discovery, xenograft experimentation, and cancer prevention, among other areas.

Reliability, Validity, and Responsiveness of the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test in Ambulatory Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (MBT) in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Method: A total of 32 pwMS completed a questionnaire on disease severity, the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC), and the MBT. The MBT was re-administered 1 week later. Results: The interrater and test-retest reliability of the total MBT and subscales were excellent. The standard error of measurement for the total MBT, calculated from test-retest and interrater reliability, respectively, was 1.32 and 1.07. The minimal detectable change (MDC) for the total MBT was 3.74; the MDC for the subscales ranged from 0.98 (sensory) to 2.38 (gait). The correlations between individual subscale scores and the total MBT, among subscales, and between the total MBT and disease severity and ABC were excellent. Correlations between the total MBT and age, MS type, and fall and imbalance histories were moderate. Disease severity and ABC scores were the strongest predictors of MBT score. No floor effects were found. Ceiling effects were found for two subscales, but not for the total MBT. Conclusions: The MBT is reliable and valid in pwMS. MDC values will facilitate assessing the effectiveness of treatment. Because ceiling effects were found for two subscales, but not the total MBT, it is recommended that clinicians administer the MBT in its entirety.

Objectif : déterminer la fiabilité, la validité et la réactivité du mini-test des systèmes d'évaluation de l'équilibre (MBT) chez les personnes atteintes de sclérose en plaques (paSP). Méthodologie : au total, 32 paSP ont rempli un questionnaire sur la gravité de la maladie, l'échelle de confiance de l'équilibre lors des activités (ABC) et le MBT. Ils ont refait le MBT une semaine plus tard. Résultats : les chercheurs ont constaté une excellente fiabilité interévaluateur et test­retest du total de MBT et des sous-échelles. L'écart-type de la mesure de MBT total était de 1,32 et de 1,07, calculé à partir de la fiabilité test­retest et interévaluateur, respectivement. Le changement minimal décelable (CMD) du MBT total était de 3,74; les sous-échelles variaient entre 0,98 (expérience sensorielle) et 2,38 (démarche). Les corrélations étaient excellentes entre les scores des échelles individuelles et le total du MBT, entre les sous-échelles ainsi qu'entre le total du MBT, la gravité de la maladie et l'ABC. Celles entre le total du MBT et l'âge, le type de SP et les antécédents de chutes et de déséquilibres étaient modérées. La gravité de la maladie et les scores d'ABC étaient les prédicteurs les plus solides du score de MBT. Les chercheurs n'ont constaté aucun effet de plancher, mais des effets de plafonnement dans deux sous-échelles, sans inclure le total du MBT. Conclusions : Le MBT est fiable et valide chez les paSP. Les valeurs de CMD faciliteront l'efficacité du traitement. Compte tenu des effets de plafonnement de deux sous-échelles, mais pas du total du MBT, il est recommandé aux cliniciens d'effectuer l'intégralité du MBT.