MCF-7 is a widely used epithelial cancer cell line, derived from breast adenocarcinoma. MCF7 cells retain characteristics of differentiated mammary epithelium, including ability to process estradiol via cytoplasmic estrogen receptors. Although easy to propagate, the cells are generally slow-growing. MCF7 cells are useful for detecting MAPK and PI3K components, and ERK and Akt phsophorylation are readily detectable in these cells. MCF7 cells express particularly high levels of p70S6K, and as such can be a useful marker for upstream kinases such as mTOR and PDK-1.

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