On 2016 Jan 04, Amanda Capes-Davis commented:

Anyone who uses MDA-MB-435 to study breast cancer needs to be aware that MDA-MB-435 comes from the same donor as M14, a widely used melanoma cell line. Although the origins of MDA-MB-435 and M14 continue to be debated, a strong body of evidence exists to say that MDA-MB-435 is misidentified and is actually melanoma.

Concerns regarding the origin of MDA-MB-435 were first raised by Ross et al., 2000 (PMID 10700174). This cDNA microarray analysis of the NCI-60 cell line panel showed that MDA-MB-435 closely resembled melanoma cell lines rather than breast. Rae et al. (PMID 15679052, 17004106) later demonstrated that MDA-MB-435 shares a common origin with the M14 melanoma cell line. Numerous samples of both cell lines have been tested with the same finding.

This finding has been debated based on phenotypic evidence. The article above notes that MDA-MB-435s expresses LHRHR. MDA-MB-435 has previously been shown to express other breast-specific markers e.g. Sellappan et al., 2005 (PMID 15150101). However, it should also be noted that MDA-MB-435 expresses melanoma-specific markers e.g. Ellison et al., 2002 (PMID 12354931).

Phenotype can be helpful but is often confusing when looking at misidentified cell lines. For example, cell lines that are cross-contaminated with HeLa have been shown to express liver- and other tissue-specific markers, leading to the incorrect assumption that cell lines are authentic when they are actually HeLa derivatives e.g. Chang, 1978 and response by Nelson-Rees, 1978 (PMID 622561). It is important to make any phenotype-based decisions using a broad expression profile and not rely on one or two individual markers.

It is also essential to test for donor origin using a method such as short tandem repeat (STR) profiling. STR profiling makes it clear that MDA-MB-435 and M14 share a common donor origin; review of their origins show that one of these cell lines must be misidentified.

Donor origin continues to be a subject of debate for MDA-MB-435 e.g. Chambers, 2009 (PMID 19549886). Users of MDA-MB-435 must make decisions based on available data. In my view, MDA-MB-435 is an unsuitable model to study breast cancer and the model described above is more likely to be suitable for melanoma research.

On 2016 Jan 04, Amanda Capes-Davis commented:

Anyone who uses MDA-MB-435 to study breast cancer needs to be aware that MDA-MB-435 comes from the same donor as M14, a widely used melanoma cell line. Although the origins of MDA-MB-435 and M14 continue to be debated, a strong body of evidence exists to say that MDA-MB-435 is misidentified and is actually melanoma.

Concerns regarding the origin of MDA-MB-435 were first raised by Ross et al., 2000 (PMID 10700174). This cDNA microarray analysis of the NCI-60 cell line panel showed that MDA-MB-435 closely resembled melanoma cell lines rather than breast. Rae et al. (PMID 15679052, 17004106) later demonstrated that MDA-MB-435 shares a common origin with the M14 melanoma cell line. Numerous samples of both cell lines have been tested with the same finding.

This finding has been debated based on phenotypic evidence. The article above notes that MDA-MB-435s expresses LHRHR. MDA-MB-435 has previously been shown to express other breast-specific markers e.g. Sellappan et al., 2005 (PMID 15150101). However, it should also be noted that MDA-MB-435 expresses melanoma-specific markers e.g. Ellison et al., 2002 (PMID 12354931).

Phenotype can be helpful but is often confusing when looking at misidentified cell lines. For example, cell lines that are cross-contaminated with HeLa have been shown to express liver- and other tissue-specific markers, leading to the incorrect assumption that cell lines are authentic when they are actually HeLa derivatives e.g. Chang, 1978 and response by Nelson-Rees, 1978 (PMID 622561). It is important to make any phenotype-based decisions using a broad expression profile and not rely on one or two individual markers.

It is also essential to test for donor origin using a method such as short tandem repeat (STR) profiling. STR profiling makes it clear that MDA-MB-435 and M14 share a common donor origin; review of their origins show that one of these cell lines must be misidentified.

Donor origin continues to be a subject of debate for MDA-MB-435 e.g. Chambers, 2009 (PMID 19549886). Users of MDA-MB-435 must make decisions based on available data. In my view, MDA-MB-435 is an unsuitable model to study breast cancer and the model described above is more likely to be suitable for melanoma research.