BT-20

The BT-20 cell line is a human breast adenocarcinoma cell line that was established in 1958 from the malignant tissue of a 74-year-old Caucasian female patient. This cell line exhibits epithelial-like morphology and is often used in research focused on breast cancer biology, particularly in studies exploring the hormonal regulation of cancer growth, gene expression, and the efficacy of therapeutic agents against breast cancer.

BT-20 cells are characterized by their ability to form tumors when implanted in immunocompromised mice, thus serving as a useful in vivo model for breast cancer. These cells express receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and androgen, making them relevant for studies on hormone response pathways. Additionally, genetic analysis of BT-20 cells has revealed mutations in genes such as TP53 and PIK3CA, which are common in breast cancer, supporting their use in genetic and pharmacological research.

In vitro, BT-20 cells are used to study the mechanisms of cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. They are also employed to assess the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy agents, making them critical for preclinical testing of anti-cancer drugs. The adaptability of BT-20 cells to various culture conditions and their robust growth in vitro make them a valuable resource for cancer research laboratories focusing on the underlying mechanisms of breast cancer and the development of new therapeutic strategies.

37°C, 5% CO₂, humidified atmosphere.

1. Confirm that the vial remains deeply frozen upon delivery, as cells are shipped on dry ice to maintain optimal temperatures during transit.

2. Upon receipt, either store the cryovial immediately at temperatures below -150°C to ensure the preservation of cellular integrity, or proceed to step 3 if immediate culturing is required.

3. For immediate culturing, swiftly thaw the vial by immersing it in a 37°C water bath with clean water and an antimicrobial agent, agitating gently for 40-60 seconds until a small ice clump remains.

4. Perform all subsequent steps under sterile conditions in a flow hood, disinfecting the cryovial with 70% ethanol before opening.

5. Carefully open the disinfected vial and transfer the cell suspension into a 15 ml centrifuge tube containing 8 ml of room-temperature culture medium, mixing gently.

6. Centrifuge the mixture at 300 x g for 3 minutes to separate the cells and carefully discard the supernatant containing residual freezing medium.

7. Gently resuspend the cell pellet in 10 ml of fresh culture medium. For adherent cells, divide the suspension between two T25 culture flasks; for suspension cultures, transfer all the medium into one T25 flask to promote effective cell interaction and growth.

8. Adhere to established subculture protocols for continued growth and maintenance of the cell line, ensuring reliable experimental outcomes.

Mycoplasma contamination is excluded using both PCR-based assays and luminescence-based mycoplasma detection methods.

To ensure there is no bacterial, fungal, or yeast contamination, cell cultures are subjected to daily visual inspections.

For long-term preservation, place vials in vapor-phase liquid nitrogen at about −150 to −196 °C. Storage at −80 °C is acceptable only as a short interim step before transfer to liquid nitrogen.

Cryopreserved cell lines are shipped on dry ice in validated, insulated packaging with sufficient refrigerant to maintain approximately −78 °C throughout transit. On receipt, inspect the container immediately and transfer vials without delay to appropriate storage.

At Cytion, we stand behind the quality and viability of our products. We guarantee that our cells will be viable at the start of culture for 60 days after shipment from our facilities. We assure that all materials conform to the specifications described in the Certificate of Analysis and/or Product Sheet.

For full details, please refer to our Warranty Statement.