OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to establish breast epithelial cell cultures and cell lines from peoples of African origin (blacks). It is presumed that the biology of breast cancer in women of African origin has unique aspects that can be explored using cultured breast epithelial cells.

STUDY DESIGN: Biopsy specimens were obtained from black women undergoing radical or modified mastectomies. Normal cell cultures were established using tissue from reduction mammaplasties or the milk of lactating mothers. The tissue specimens were lacerated, digested with collagenase solution, and plated on tissue culture plates. To extend the life of the epithelial cells in culture, they are transformed with SV40 virus.

RESULTS: We have maintained breast tumor cells in culture from a 27-year-old black woman for more than 1 month.

CONCLUSION: Despite the difficulty of establishing epithelial cell cultures, we have maintained breast tumor cells from blacks in culture for an extended period to allow characterization. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997;176:S240-5.)