WO2011068882A1 - Breast cancer model systems - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides cell lines for evaluating therapies for inflammatory breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer. The cell lines express bioluminescent and/or fluorescent proteins which are used to monitor tumor burden. The cell lines provided by the invention may be used for xenografts.

Description

BREAST CANCER MODEL SYSTEMS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/265,407, filed December 1, 2009, which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Tumors that lack estrogen, progesterone, and Her2/nu, designated "triple- negative" tumors are some of the most aggressive, therapy-resistant, and highly metastatic tumors of breast cancer. Another type of cancer, inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), is one of the most lethal forms of breast cancer with a 5-year survival rate of 40%. The hallmarks of IBC include skin redness, irritation, swelling, pain, and extensive hematogenous and lymph node metastasis.

[0003] Animal models are highly desirable for studying triple-negative and IBC pathology and for designing therapies to increase patient survival.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention provides cell lines for evaluating morphology and therapies for inflammatory breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer comprising cell lines expressing bioluminescent and/or fluorescent proteins. In a preferred embodiment, cell line is a triple- negative breast cancer cell line expressing a fluorescent protein and a luciferase. In another preferred embodiment, the cell line is an inflammatory breast cancer cell line expressing a fluorescent protein and a luciferase. The cell line can be prepared by transfecting or transforming a cell line such as HCC1806 or SUM 149 with one or more polynucleotides encoding a fluorescent protein and a luciferase.

[0005] The invention provides cell lines and methods wherein the fluorescent protein is a green fluorescent protein or a red fluorescent protein, and wherein the luciferase is a Renilla luciferase or a firefly luciferase.

[0006] The invention further provides a mouse for evaluating a therapy for triple-negative breast cancer or inflammatory breast cancer comprising an immunologically deficient mouse comprising a cell line as described herein. [0007] The invention also provides a method for evaluating a therapy of triple-negative breast cancer or inflammatory breast cancer, the method comprising: (a) obtaining a mouse comprising a xenograft of a cell line comprising one or more polynucleotides encoding a fluorescent protein and a luciferase; (b) maintaining the mouse for a tumor incubation period; (c) treating the mouse with the therapy; (d) maintaining the mouse for a post-treatment period; (e) determining the metastatic burden by fluorescent microscopy or a quantitative luciferase assay; and (f) comparing the metastatic burden in the mouse of (a) with an untreated control mouse, wherein a statistically significant reduction in the metastatic burden in the mouse of (a) as compared to the control mouse indicates the therapy has activity. The therapy can be any anti-cancer therapy such as small molecules, chemotherapeutic agents, biologies, antibodies, antiangiogenic agents, radiation therapy, thermal therapy, gene therapy and combinations thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0008] Figure 1 is a schematic depiction of the Sleeping Beauty Transposon system (Discovery Genomics, Minneapolis, MN).

[0009] Figure 2 is a schematic depiction of the transfected transposons used for stable expression of Renilla luciferase and RFP.

[0010] Figure 3 is a graph depicting tumor growth rates for the parental HCC1806 line, as well as HCC1806-RR clones 1-C6*, 1-C6, and 4-D7 as average tumor volume per day. Each dot represents the average tumor volume ± the standard error.

[0011] Figure 4 is a graph depicting tumor growth rates for the SUM 149 parental line, as well as SUM149-RR clones 3-A1, 1-5A, and 2-B2, as well as SUM149-GL clones 1 and 17. Each dot represents the average tumor volume ± the standard error.

[0012] Figure 5 is a graph quantifying metastatic burden of HCC1806-RR in lymph nodes of n=8 mice, represented as RLU/mg protein x 10⁶. All 8 mice had metastasis to the lymph nodes.

[0013] Figure 6A is a graph quantifying metastatic burden of SUM 149-RR (n=8) and SUM149-GL (n=3) in lymph nodes, represented as RLU/mg protein x 10⁶.

[0014] Figure 6B is a graph quantifying metastatic burden of SUM 149-RR (n=8) and SUM149-GL (n=3) in lungs, represented as RLU/mg protein x 10⁶.

[0015] Figure 7 is a graph depicting body weight of HCC 1806-RR specimens throughout the study for control, bevacizumab (Bev), nab-paclitaxel (ABX), and nab- paclitaxel/bevacizumab combination (ABX+Bev). The black arrow indicates when treatment started. The weights are averaged ± standard error.

[0016] Figure 8 is a graph depicting average tumor volume of HCC 1806-RR specimens throughout the study for control, bevacizumab (Bev), nab-paclitaxel (ABX), and nab- paclitaxel/bevacizumab combination (ABX+Bev). Tumor volume is presented as the average volume ± the standard error. The black arrow indicates the start of treatment.

[0017] Figure 9A is a graph depicting the effect of nab-paclitaxel therapy in combination with bevacizumab on metastasis in HCC 1806-RR tumors for control, bevacizumab (Bev), nab-paclitaxel (ABX), and nab-paclitaxel/bevacizumab combination (ABX+Bev). Each dot represents an individual animal's metastasis for ipsilateral lymph nodes. Each bar represents the average metastatic burden per group (n=8).

[0018] Figure 9B is a graph depicting the effect of nab-paclitaxel therapy in combination with bevacizumab on metastasis in HCC 1806-RR tumors for control, bevacizumab (Bev), nab-paclitaxel (ABX), and nab-paclitaxel/bevacizumab combination (ABX+Bev). Each dot represents an individual animal's metastasis for contralateral lymph nodes. Each bar represents the average metastatic burden per group (n=8).

[0019] Figure 9C is a graph depicting the effect of nab-paclitaxel therapy in combination with bevacizumab on metastasis in HCC 1806-RR tumors for control, bevacizumab (Bev), nab-paclitaxel (ABX), and nab-paclitaxel/bevacizumab combination (ABX+Bev). Each dot represents an individual animal's metastasis for lungs. Each bar represents the average metastatic burden per group (n=8).

[0020] Figure 10 is a graph depicting body weight of SUM149-RR specimens throughout the study for control, bevacizumab (Bev), nab-paclitaxel (ABX), and nab- paclitaxel/bevacizumab combination (ABX+Bev). The black arrow indicates the start of each treatment cycle. The weights are averaged ± standard error.

[0021] Figure 1 1 is a graph depicting average tumor volume of SUM149-RR specimens throughout the study for control, bevacizumab (Bev), nab-paclitaxel (ABX), and nab- paclitaxel/bevacizumab combination (ABX+Bev). Tumor volume is presented as the average volume ± the standard error. The black arrow indicates the start of each treatment cycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] I. Definitions [0023] The terms "bioluminescence," "bioluminescent," and "bioluminesce" refer to luminescence that occurs in a living organism, for example in a photogenic organism, in which energy from a chemical reaction is transformed into light energy. An example of a bioluminescent chemical reaction is a reaction in which a chemical substrate such as luciferin reacts with oxygen in the presence of an enzyme, for example luciferase. "Bioluminescence" "bioluminescent," and "bioluminesce" also refer to the production of light using chemical reagents and reactions that produce bioluminescence in nature; in other contexts. As an example, bioluminescence may occur in vitro, in a recombinant organism engineered to contain the chemical reagents necessary for bioluminescence in a naturally occurring organism, or in an organism into which bioluminescent cells have been transplanted.

[0024] "Fluorescence," as defined herein, refers to luminescence in the form of secondary light that is generated upon exposure to a primary light source. A substance emits light by "fluorescence" when it absorbs incident radiation at a first (i.e., excitation) wavelength and emits radiation at a second, usually different (i.e., emission) wavelength. Fluorescent emission ceases when the incident radiation ends. Accordingly, the mechanism of production of light by "bioluminescence" is distinct from the mechanism of production of light by "fluorescence."

[0025] The terms "transformed" and "transfected" are used interchangeably to refer to a cell into which has been introduced, by means of recombinant nucleic acid techniques, a heterologous nucleic acid molecule. The nucleic acid can be introduced permanently or transiently, and can be introduced by viral or non-viral vector. One of ordinary skill in the art will easily understand that multiple methods can be used to introduce exogenous nucleic acids into a given cell.

[0026] The terms "treating," "treatment," "therapy," and "therapeutic treatment" as used herein refer to curative therapy, prophylactic therapy, or preventative therapy. An example of "preventative therapy" is the prevention or lessening the chance of a targeted disease (e.g., cancer or other proliferative disease) or related condition thereto. Those in need of treatment include those already with the disease or condition as well as those prone to have the disease or condition to be prevented. The terms "treating," "treatment," "therapy," and "therapeutic treatment" as used herein also describe the management and care of a mammal for the purpose of combating a disease, or related condition, and includes the administration of a composition to alleviate the symptoms, side effects, or other complications of the disease, condition. Therapeutic treatment for cancer includes, but is not limited to, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy.

[0027] As used herein "therapeutically effective amount" refers to an amount of a composition that relieves (to some extent, as judged by a skilled medical practitioner) one or more symptoms of the disease or condition in a mammal. Additionally, by "therapeutically effective amount" of a composition is meant an amount that returns to normal, either partially or completely, physiological or biochemical parameters associated with or causative of a disease or condition. A clinician skilled in the art can determine the therapeutically effective amount of a composition in order to treat or prevent a particular disease condition, or disorder when it is administered, such as intravenously, subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, orally, or through inhalation. The precise amount of the composition required to be therapeutically effective will depend upon numerous factors, e.g., such as the specific activity of the active agent, the delivery device employed, physical characteristics of the agent, purpose for the administration, in addition to many patient specific considerations. But a determination of a therapeutically effective amount is within the skill of an ordinarily skilled clinician upon the appreciation of the disclosure set forth herein.

[0028] In some embodiments, the term " therapeutically effective" refers to a result which substantially decreases the level or expression of, including for example, an about 20% reduction, preferrably an about 25% reduction, more preferrably an about 30% reduction, even more preferrably an about 33% reduction, even more preferrably an about 50% reduction, even more preferrably an about 67% reduction, even more preferrably an about 80%) reduction, even more preferrably an about 90% reduction, even more preferrably an about 95% reduction, even more preferrably an about 99% reduction, even more preferrably an about 50 fold reduction, even more preferrably an about 100 fold reduction, even more preferrably an about 1 ,000 fold reduction, even more preferrably an about 10,000 fold reduction, and most preferable complete silencing.

[0029] As used herein, the term "agent" or "drug" or "therapeutic agent" refers to a chemical compound, a mixture of chemical compounds, a biological macromolecule, or an extract made from biological materials such as bacteria, plants, fungi, or animal (particularly mammalian) cells or tissues that are suspected of having therapeutic properties. The agent or drug can be purified, substantially purified or partially purified. An "agent", according to the present invention, also includes a radiation therapy agent or a "chemotherapeutic agent." [0030] As used herein, the term "chemotherapeutic agent" refers to an agent with activity against cancer, neoplastic, and/or proliferative diseases.

[0031] As used herein, the term "radiotherapeutic regimen" or "radiotherapy" refers to the administration of radiation to kill cancerous cells. Radiation interacts with various molecules within the cell, but the primary target, which results in cell death is the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). However, radiotherapy often also results in damage to the cellular and nuclear membranes and other organelles. DNA damage usually involves single and double strand breaks in the sugar-phosphate backbone. Furthermore, there can be cross-linking of DNA and proteins, which can disrupt cell function. Depending on the radiation type, the mechanism of DNA damage may vary as does the relative biologic effectiveness. For example, heavy particles (i.e. protons, neutrons) damage DNA directly and have a greater relative biologic effectiveness. Whereas, electromagnetic radiation results in indirect ionization acting through short-lived, hydroxyl free radicals produced primarily by the ionization of cellular water. Clinical applications of radiation consist of external beam radiation (from an outside source) and brachytherapy (using a source of radiation implanted or inserted into the patient).

External beam radiation consists of X- rays and/or gamma rays, while brachytherapy employs radioactive nuclei that decay and emit alpha particles, or beta particles along with a gamma ray.

[0032] As used herein the term "alternative therapeutic regimen" or "alternative therapy" (not a first line chemotherapeutic regimen as described above) may include for example, receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (for example Iressa™ (gefitinib), Tarceva™ (erlotinib), Erbitux™ (cetuximab), imatinib mesilate (Gleevec™), proteosome inhibitors (for example bortezomib, Velcade™); VEGFR2 inhibitors such as PTK787 (ZK222584), aurora kinase inhibitors (for example ZM447439); mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, rapamycin inhibitors (for example sirolimus,

Rapamune™); farnesyltransferase inhibitors (for example tipifarnib, Zarnestra); matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors (for example BAY 12-9566; sulfated polysaccharide tecogalan); angiogenesis inhibitors (for example Avastin™ (bevacizumab); analogues of fumagillin such as TNP-4; carboxyaminotriazole; BB-94 and BB-2516; thalidomide; interleukin-12;

linomide; peptide fragments; and antibodies to vascular growth factors and vascular growth factor receptors); platelet derived growth factor receptor inhibitors, protein kinase C inhibitors, mitogen-activated kinase inhibitors, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitors, Rouse sarcoma virus transforming oncogene (SRC) inhibitors, histonedeacetylase inhibitors, small hypoxia-inducible factor inhibitors, hedgehog inhibitors, and TGF-β signalling inhibitors. Furthermore, an immunotherapeutic agent would also be considered an alternative therapeutic regimen. For example, serum or gamma globulin containing preformed antibodies; nonspecific immunostimulating adjuvants; active specific

immunotherapy; and adoptive immunotherapy. In addition, alternative therapies may include other biological-based chemical entities such as polynucleotides, including antisense molecules, polypeptides, antibodies, gene therapy vectors and the like. Such alternative therapeutics may be administered alone or in combination, or in combination with other therapeutic regimens described herein. Methods of use of chemotherapeutic agents and other agents used in alternative therapeutic regimens in combination therapies, including dosing and administration regimens, will also be known to a one skilled in the art.

[0033] The terms "co-administration" and "combination therapy" refer to administering to a subject two or more therapeutically active agents. The agents can be contained in a single pharmaceutical composition and be administered at the same time, or the agents can be contained in separate formulation and administered serially to a subject. So long as the two agents can be detected in the subject at the same time, the two agents are said to be coadministered.

[0034] II. Cell Lines

[0035] The invention provides cell lines for evaluating morphology and therapies for breast cancer. In particular, the invention provides cell lines for evaluating inflammatory breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer. Cell lines of the present invention express bioluminescent and/or fluorescent proteins.

[0036] In one preferred embodiment, the cell line is a triple-negative breast cancer cell line, which comprises cells that lack estrogen, progesterone, and Her2/nu. Such cell lines are known to one of ordinary skill in the art. A preferred triple-negative cell line for use in the present invention is HCC1806, although other triple-negative cell lines could also be employed in the methods and products disclosed herein.

[0037] In another preferred embodiment, the cell line is an inflammatory breast cancer cell line. Such cell lines are also known to one of ordinary skill in the art. A preferred inflammatory breast cancer cell line for use in the present invention is SUM 149, although other inflammatory breast cancer cell lines could also be employed in the methods and products disclosed herein. [0038] The bioluminescent and/or fluorescent protein can be any known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the fluorescent protein can be green fluorescent protein (GFP) or red fluorescent protein (RFP). Other fluorescent proteins can also be used, such as blue fluorescent protein, cyan fluorescent protein, and yellow fluorescent protein. In some preferred embodiments, an RFP is used encoded by a gene designated AsRed. Nucleotide and polypeptide sequences of such proteins are easily obtained by one of ordinary skill in the art through commercial sources, and natural and synthetic sequences for such proteins can further be found at accession numbers such as AAB51348, AAO43180, AB209967,

AB209968, AB209969, or others. In preferred embodiments, commercially available polynucleotides encoding GFP and/or RFP are used in the cell lines of the present invention, such as from Promega Corp., Madison, WI.

[0039] The bioluminescent protein can be any suitable protein such as a luciferase. In preferred embodiments, the luciferase is a Renilla luciferase, such as commonly

commercially available (see, e.g., Promega Corp., Madison, WI). In other preferred embodiments, the luciferase is a firefly luciferase, also commonly commercially available (see, e.g., Promega Corp., Madison, WI). One of ordinary skill in the art will easily be able to determine or obtain appropriate nucleotide sequences from provided protein accession numbers and vice versa.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, cell line is a triple-negative breast cancer cell line expressing a fluorescent protein and a luciferase. In another preferred embodiment, the cell line is an inflammatory breast cancer cell line expressing a fluorescent protein and a luciferase. However, in other embodiments, other combinations of fluorescent and/or bioluminescent proteins can be used in tumor cell lines within the methods of the present invention.

[0041] In some embodiments, the cell line can be prepared by transfecting or

transforming a cell line such as HCC1806 or SUM 149 with one or more polynucleotides encoding a fluorescent protein and a luciferase. The polynucleotide can be introduced by a viral or non-viral vector, as appropriate to the circumstances. By way of non-limiting example, commercially available systems can be used to introduce the DNA such as the Sleeping Beauty transposon system (Discovery Genomics, Minneapolis, MN), or other non- viral system such as a lentiviral construct. Typically, the fluorescent or bioluminescent protein will be introduced along with a gene conferring resistance to a selection antibiotic, such as puromycin. [0042] Preferably, derivates of the parental cell lines express the fluorescent or bioluminescent proteins at readily detectable levels. These derivates can be screened for clonality using visual selection and/or sequence analysis, or other methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such derivates can be further evaluated in vitro to select clones which have suitable properties for modeling known characteristics of the disease, e.g., growth rate.

[0043] III. Animal Xenograft

[0044] The invention further provides a test animal for evaluating a therapy for triple- negative breast cancer or inflammatory breast cancer comprising an immunologically deficient mouse which has been implanted with a xenograft of a cell line as described above.

[0045] Clonal derivates of the parental cell line expressing the fluorescent and/or bioluminescent protein as described above can be obtained as described above. Such clones can be implanted in a test animal that is an immunocompromised mammal. Preferably, the immunocompromized mammal is an SCID mouse, although other types of

immunocompromised mice and other suitable mammals can also be used where expedient.

[0046] The clones can be implanted in the test animal at a site appropriate to the evaluated cancer. For example, for the breast cancer models herein, cells can be implanted at one or more mammary fat pads of the mouse. Xenografted test animals can then be monitored for tumor progression and/or treated with therapeutic regimens. Preferably, in vivo measurements of tumor growth rates and metastasis patterns are evaluated to verify that xenografted clones are suitably similar to the parental cell line.

[0047] In some preferred embodiments, the invention provides a test animal comprising a HCC1806 xenograft. In other embodiments, the invention provides a test animal comprising a SUM 149 xenograft. The xenografted test animal can comprise any cell line as described above. Preferably, xenografted HCC1806 test animals comprise red fluorescent protein (RFP) and Renilla luciferase. In other preferred embodiments, xenografted SUM 149 test animals comprise either RFP and Renilla luciferase, or green fluorescent protein (GFP) and firefly luciferase.

[0048] IV. Methods

[0049] The invention also provides a method for evaluating a therapy of triple-negative breast cancer or inflammatory breast cancer, the method comprising: (a) obtaining test animal comprising a xenograft of a cell line comprising one or more polynucleotides encoding a fluorescent protein and a luciferase; (b) maintaining the test animal for a tumor incubation period; (c) treating the test animal with the therapy; (d) maintaining the test animal for a post- treatment period; (e) determining the metastatic burden by fluorescent microscopy or a quantitative luciferase assay; and (f) comparing the metastatic burden in the test animal of (a) with an untreated control animal, wherein a statistically significant reduction in the metastatic burden in the test animal of (a) as compared to the control animal indicates the therapy has activity.

[0050] The mouse and cell line employed in the methods of the present invention can be any mouse or cell line as described above. The tumor incubation period can be any suitable period as determined by the time necessary for a predetermined tumor volume to be reached, or any suitable period of time after which tumor growth in all subjects can be measured. For example, the tumor incubation period can be the time necessary for tumors of the xenograft mice to reach 100 mm³, 1 10 mm³, 120 mm³, 130 mm³, 140 mm³, 150 mm³, 175 mm³, 190 mm³, 200 mm³, 225 mm³, 250 mm³, or more than 250 mm³. In other embodiments, it may be useful to specify that the tumor incubation period has a set duration such as 7 days, 8 days, 9 days, 10 days, 11 days, 12 days, 13 days, 14 days, 15 days, 20 days, 25 days, 30 days, 40 days, more than 40 days, and intervening values.

[0051] The therapy can be any anti-cancer therapy such as small molecules,

chemotherapeutic agents, biologies, antibodies, antiangiogenic agents, radiation therapy, thermal therapy, gene therapy and combinations thereof. By way of non-limiting example, the therapy can be one or more of the following: genistein, ¹³ Ί, ⁹⁰ Y, ^{1 1} 'in, ²¹ 'At, ³²P, adriamycin, ansamycin antibiotics, asparaginase, bleomycin, busulphan, cisplatin, carboplatin, carmustine, capecitabine, chlorambucil, cytarabine, cyclophosphamide, camptothecin, dacarbazine, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, dexrazoxane, docetaxel,

doxorubicin, etoposide, epothilones, floxuridine, fludarabine, fluorouracil, gemcitabine, hydroxyurea, idarubicin, ifosfamide, irinotecan, lomustine, mechlorethamine,

mercaptopurine, meplhalan, methotrexate, rapamycin, sirolimus, mitomycin, mitotane, mitoxantrone, nitrosurea, pamidronate, pentostatin, plicamycin, procarbazine, rituximab, streptozocin, teniposide, thioguanine, thiotepa, taxanes, vinblastine, vincristine, vinorelbine, taxol, combretastatins, discodermolides, transplatinum, bleomycin, hormones, tamoxifen, diethylstilbestrol, biologically active polypeptides, antibodies, lectins, toxins, Axitinib, Avastin, marimastat, bevacizumab, carboxyamidotriazole, TNP-470, CM101 , IFN-a, IL-12, platelet factor-4, suramin, SU5416, thrombospondin, VEGFR antagonists, angiostatic steroids, cartilage-derived angiogenesis inhibitory factor, matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors, angiostatin, endostati, 2- methoxyestradiol, tecogalan, thrombospondin, prolactin, ανβ3 inhibitors, tecogalan, BAY 12-9566, AG3340, CGS27023A, COL-3, vitaxin, ZD0101 , TNP- 40, thalidomide, squalamine, IM862, PTK787, fumagillin, analogues of fumagillin, BB-94, BB-2516 linomid, 17-AAG, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel and combinations thereof.

[0052] The post-treatment period can be any suitable period to determine whether treatment has been effective. In some embodiments, it may be useful to monitor test animals after completion of therapy for specified intervals such as 7 days, 8 days, 9 days, 10 days, 1 1 days, 12 days, 13 days, 14 days, 15 days, 20 days, 25 days, 30 days, 40 days, more than 40 days, and intervening values. In other embodiments, test animals can be monitored until they reach a clinical criterion, e.g., regrowth of tumor to a specified level, determination of complete remission, death of test animal from tumor burden, etc.

[0053] At the end of the post-treatment period, clinical characteristics of the test animal can be evaluated. Primary tumor volume can be evaluated using suitable methods, e.g., calipers or excision and weighing. The metastatic burden can be evaluated by any method known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Preferably, fluorescence microscopy or a quantitative bioluminescence assay can be used to evaluate the metastatic burden. More preferably, both fluorescence microscopy and quantitative bioluminescence assay can be used. In certain embodiments, it may be useful to visually inspect the tumors as well, such as in evaluating a model of inflammatory breast cancer, to determine characteristics of post- treatment tumors.

[0054] Finally, the quantitative and/or qualitative characteristics of the test animal can be compared to the characteristics of an untreated control animal. The untreated control animal can be contemporaneously xenografted with the test animal, or previously xenografted and sacrificed, with appropriate measurements recorded. A statistically significant reduction in the metastatic burden in the test animal as compared to the control animal indicates the therapy has activity. Any suitable statistical method can be used to determine whether the reduction has been significant.

[0055] The following examples further illustrate the invention but, of course, should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope. EXAMPLE 1

[0056] This example demonstrates the production of an HCC1806 cell line derivate and a SUM 149 cell line derivate tagged with red fluorescent protein (RFP) and Renilla luciferase (RR).

[0057] The Sleeping Beauty Transposon system (Discovery Genomics, Minneapolis, MN), illustrated schematically at Figure 1 , was used to mediate integration of the sequence of interest. A bi-directional promoter was prepared containing the requisite regulatory elements, which were inserted into the transposon further containing the Renilla luciferase gene and AsRed, which encodes red fluorescent protein, illustrated schematically at Figure 2. The cell lines were further co-transfected with a plasmid conveying puromycin resistance and encoding transposase.

[0058] Cells of the triple-negative breast carcinoma line HCC 1806 and cells of the inflammatory breast carcinoma line SUM 149 were seeded in a six well plate with 100,000 cells per well. Cells were allowed to attach overnight. The cells were washed and fresh medium was added before transfection. Cells were transfected with a 1 : 1 and 1 :4 ratio of RR plasmid and the puroycin plasmid to the transposase plasmid. Cells were transfected overnight. All wells were then washed with DPBS twice and fresh medium was added to each well. The cells were allowed to recover from transfection for 48 hours. The culture was then assessed for RFP expression using a fluorescent microscope. The cells were selected with puromycin for 7-10 days. After selecting with puromycin, the culture was assessed again for RFP expression in remaining cells. The cells were trypsinized and subcloned in six 96-well plates. Three plates were prepared with 10 cells per well, and three plates were prepared with five cells per well. The wells were monitored biweekly for monoclonal clones with high levels of RFP expression. Monoclonal clones were selected and expanded in six- well plates.

[0059] The monoclonal cells were left in culture for several weeks without passaging, resulting in small patches of attached cells containing RFP expression. The cells were washed 5 times with DPBS with 0.5mM EDTA to remove dead cells and debris. Two milliliters of fresh medium were added to each well. Within 72 hours the remaining cells were visibly growing and retained their RFP expression. These clones were expanded and assessed for luciferase expression and for morphology similar to the parental line.

[0060] This protocol results in the preparation of HCC-1086-RR and SUM149-RR clones. EXAMPLE 2

[0061] This example demonstrates the production of a SUM 149 cell line derivate tagged with green fluorescent protein and firefly luciferase clones.

[0062] A fusigenic VSVG envelope lentivirus was used. The virus contained a GFP- IRES-firefly luciferase construct, which does not require a receptor interaction to enter the cell and stably transfect the cells. Lentivirus also damages its replication site, so once it enters the genome it can no longer replicate, move within the genome, or infect other cells.

[0063] Cells of the inflammatory breast carcinoma line SUM 149 were infected with the lentivirus construct with a multiplicity of infection (MOI) ranging from 1 -10. After 24 hours of infection, the cells were washed and fresh media replaced. The cells were then monitored for GFP expression. Infection occured in approximately 40% of the cells. After one week cells were subcloned in 96-well plates. Three plates contained 10 cells per well, and three plates contained five cells per well. The wells were monitored biweekly for monoclonal clones with a high level of GFP expression. Only monoclonals were selected for further characterization (i.e., morphology and luciferase expression), and were further expanded.

[0064] This protocol results in the preparation of SUM149-GL clones.

EXAMPLE 3

[0065] This example demonstrates the assessment of various properties of clones generated from the HCC1806-RR, SUM149-RR, and SUM149-GL cell line derivates.

[0066] HCC1806-RR, SUM149-RR, and SUM149-GL clones prepared as in Example 1 and 2 were compared to the morphology of their parental cell lines. Clones with similar morphology were expanded. Frozen stocks were generated, pellets were made and luciferase was measured. Upon visual examination of the cells, RFP and GFP expression appeared at all cells at apparently the same intensity, consistent with monoclonality of the cells.

[0067] Expression of Renilla luciferase was measured in the HCC1806-RR and

SUM149-RR clones using the Promega E2810 Renilla Luciferase Assay System (Promega, Madison, WI). Expression of firefly luciferase was measured in the SUM149-GL clones using the Promega El 501 Luciferase Assay System (Promega, Madison, WI). All cells were trypsinized and counted according to standard procedures. Serial dilution was set up with the cell number ranging between 780-100,000 cells per mL. Cells were centrifuged at 13,000 RPMs for 10 minutes. The supernatant was aspirated off. The pellets were disrupted by flicking the tube, and 150 μΐ, of the Renilla lysis buffer, or cell culture lysis buffer was added to each pellet. Cells were lysed on ice for 10 minutes and then centrifuged for 10 minutes at 13,00 RPM. Ten μΐ, of whole cell lysate was added to the luciferase substrate and the average luciferase expression was measured for 10 seconds, with reading in the units of Relative Light Units (RLU) per second. A minimum of 4 clones were screened for expression of luciferase. Table 1 provides the average luciferase expression of the finally selected clones.

Table 1

* Clones from HCC1806-RR line that survived well under stress conditions in culture.

[0068] These results demonstrate in vitro properties of the selected HCC1806-RR, SUM149-RR, and SUM149-GL clones.

EXAMPLE 4

[0069] This example demonstrates the assessment of tumor growth of the selected HCC1806-RR, SUM149-RR, and SUM149-GL clones.

[0070] Four- to six- week-old SCID mice were implanted with 4xl 0⁶ tumor cells in the mammary fat pad. Mice were monitored weekly and tumors were measured.

[0071] In the HCC1806 model, the parental cell line had a growth rate of 77 ± 10 mm³ per day. Clone 1-C6* had the most similar growth rate to the parental line at 68 ± 12 mm Clone 1-C6 and Clone 4-D7 grew much more slowly than the parental line with rates of 48 ± 5 mm³ per day and 16 ± 10 mm³, respectively, as shown in Figure 3. Clone 1 -C6* was the survival clone from 1-C6, and it had a better growth rate than 1-C6. There was not a statistically significant difference in the growth rate of clone 1 -C6* from the parental line.

[0072] In the SUM 149 model, the SUM149-RR and SUM149-GL clones' growth were compared to the parental cell line. In the SUM149-RR model, two of the clones grew at a slightly faster rate than the parental cell line, and one of the clones grew at a slower rate than the parental cell line. The parental cell line grew at 23 ± 4 mm³ per day. Clone 3-Al grew at 3 3

10 ± 1 mm per day, Clone 1 -5A grew at 30 ± 1 mm per day, and Clone 3-B2 grew at a rate of 36 ± 5 mm per day, as shown in Figure 4.

[0073] SUM149-GL clones 1 and 17 did not have similar growth rates to the parental cell line. There was approximately a 30 day delay before the tumor started to grow. Once the tumors started to grow, they started to grow at a much quicker rate than the parental cell line. Clone 1 grew at a rate of 57 ± 12 mm per day, and clone 17 grew at a rate of 58 ± 20 mm per day, as shown in Figure 4.

[0074] These results identified Clone 1 -C6 (HCC1806-RR); clone 1 -5A (SUM149-RR); and clone 1 (SUM149-GL) as the clones having in vivo tumor growth rates most similar to the parental cell lines.

EXAMPLE 5

[0075] This example demonstrates the metastatic distribution of the selected HCC1806- RR, SUM149-RR, and SUM149-GL clones.

[0076] Each of the selected clones (Clone 1 -C6 (HCC1806-RR); clone 1 -5 A (SUM 149- RR); and clone 1 (SUM149-GL)) was assessed with a Xenogen bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging device (Caliper Life Sciences, Hopkinton, MA). Prior to sacrifice, the mice were injected intravenously with 100 of Renilla luciferase substrate or firefly luciferase substrate. The luciferase substrate was allowed to circulate for 5 minutes and then the mouse was imaged for 3-10 minutes. After the mouse was imaged, it was euthanized and all major internal organs were measured for 5-10 minutes (data not shown).

[0077] In the HCC 1806-RR model, a tumor was imaged. Analysis of the metastatic distribution indicated that the ipsilateral lymph nodes and the brain were positive. Tumors of the SUM149-RR and SUM149-GL lines were likewise imaged. Analysis of the metastatic distribution of SUM149-RR indicated metastatic lesions in the lymph nodes, lungs, kidneys, liver, heart and spleen. The SUM149-GL tumor line was also highly metastatic, with lesions detected in lymph nodes, lung, liver, and brain.

[0078] After each animal was assessed for metastasis with the bioimager, the lymph nodes and lungs were assessed to quantify the burden in each organ. Each organ was homogenized in 400 iL of lysis buffer. Whole organ lysates were cleared of debris, and 10 μί of lysate was added to 50 of the appropriate luciferase substrate.

[0079] In the HCC 1806-RR model, all mice (n=8) had lymph node metastasis, with metastasis levels shown in Figure 5, indicating that lymphatic metastasis is a predominant form of metastasis. When the mice were sacrificed, the tumors ranged in size from 300-900 mm³.

[0080] In the mice implanted with the SUM149-RR clones, all of the mice (n=8) had metastasis in the lymph nodes and the lungs (Figure 6A-B). Three out of the four mice (75%) that were implanted with the SUM149-GL clone had metastasis in the lymph nodes and the lungs (Figure 6A-B). Overall, the SUM149-RR clones registered higher luminescence (RLU) than SUM149-GL, but SUM149-GL was also observed to express fewer light units.

[0081] These results provide metastatic patterns as well as tumor burden associated with each of the selected clones.

EXAMPLE 6

[0082] This example demonstrates the effect of Nab-paclitaxel and bevacizumab therapy on primary tumor growth and metastasis in an HCC1806-RR tumor model.

[0083] Clone HCC1806-RR-1-C6*, as prepared in Example 1 and characterized in Examples 3-5, was implanted at 4xl 0⁶ cells in the mammary fat pad. When the tumors reached a volume of 150-200 mm³, 10 mg/kg nab-paclitaxel was administered intravenously daily for five days (qdx5) for one cycle with bevacizumab (4mg/kg) administered

intraperitonealy biweekly for the duration of the study. Control mice were treated with bevacizumab alone, nab-paclitaxel alone, or untreated.

[0084] Minimal toxicity was associated with the treatment. As shown in Figure 7, there was a transient drop in the weight of mice treated with nab-paclitaxel of 7-10% of the total weight. After cessation of treatment, all mice regained their original weight within two weeks.

[0085] Control mice were bioimaged prior to sacrifice to determine the limits of detection of the Renilla luciferase in vivo. The control mice reached maximum tumor volume in 38 days growing at a rate of 56.2 ± 4.4 mm³ per day. Treatment with bevacizumab alone had no effect at suppressing the growth rate of the primary tumors. Upon sacrifice of the control mice, the average inhibition of tumor growth in the mice treated with nab-paclitaxel alone was 90% compared with the control group. However, all tumors had started to regrow by the end of the study with an average rate of 28.1 ± 1 1.4 mm³ per day. The maximal tumor growth inhibition was 100% in mice treated with both nab-paclitaxel and bevacizumab, and the suppression lasted longer than 37 days. This result was highly significant compared with either control (PO.001) or nab-paclitaxel (P=0.024) group. Fifty percent (4 out of 8 mice) had complete and sustainable regressions of the primary tumors that lasted for the duration of the study (Figure 8).

Table 2

^* Bev, ABX, and ABX + Bev denote treatment with bevacizumab, nab-paclitaxel and combination of the two drugs, respectively.

^£ Percent of inhibition of control was calculated at day 38. This is the day that all control mice were sacrificed and when maximal effects of the therapy was observed.

^T TGD (tumor growth delay) is defined as a number of days that delayed the mean tumor volume per group reaching 1000 mm^J as compared with the saline-treated control groups.

f Complete response was defined as absence of palpable tumor at the original tumor injection site for the entire length of the experiments (90-95 days).

s Statistical significance was assessed using a Student's t-test. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant.

H NS indicates that the difference between two compared group was not statistically significant.

[0086] Luciferase activity was further analyzed to detect total metastatic burden in tissue extracts from the mice in each treatment group as well as the control mice. After sacrifice, the ipsilateral and contralateral lymph nodes and lungs were excised and assessed for metastasis. These results are presented in Table 3 and Figure 9A-C.

Table 3

Bev, ABX, and ABX + Bev denote treatment with bevacizumab, nab-paclitaxel and combination of the two drugs, respectively. ' Luciferase activity was measured in extracts from the axillary, brachial and inguinal lymph nodes from the ipsilateral and contralateral sides and both lobes of lung were taken from each mouse. Samples that rated 800 light units per 10 μΐ, lysates were rated positive. Lysates from tissues of non-tumor bearing mice produced a luminescence signal of 100 light units, which was considered background and subtracted from all positive values. Results are presented as number of mice with ipsilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, or lung metastasis per total number of mice in each experimental group. Percentage of mice is shown in parentheses.

* P- value was calculated by Fisher's exact test.

§ NS represents the analysis that could not be done with the Fisher's exact test because it is not significant.

[0087] The control and bevacizumab alone groups both had 100% of the mice positive for ipsilateral lymph node metastasis with average luciferase activity of 79.4x10⁶ ± 143.9 x 10⁶ PvLU/mg protein, and 40.2 x 10⁶ ± 58.8 x 10⁶ RLU/mg protein, respectively. The incidence of positive ipsliateral lymph nodes decreased to 75% in the nab-paclitaxel group and the combination therapy group to 50% with a reading of 1 1.6 x 10⁶ ± 20.8 x 10⁶ RLU/mg protein (nab-paclitaxel alone) and a reading of 3.9 x 10⁶ ± 6.1 x 10⁶ RLU/mg protein (nab- paclitaxel/bevacizumab combination therapy) (Figure 9A).

[0088] The contralateral lymph node was shown to have a lower rate of metastasis than the ipsilateral lymph node, the control group had an incidence of 71% for positive contralateral lymph nodes with an average luciferase activity of 1.7 x 10⁶ ± 2.0 x 10⁶ RLU/mg protein. The bevacizumab group had an incidence of 38% with an average measurement of 2.5 x 10⁶ ± 1.1 x 10⁶ RLU/mg protein. The nab-paclitaxel group had only one mouse (13%) that was positive for contralateral lymph node metastasis with the burden of 0.18 x 10⁶ RLU per mg protein. In the group of combined nab-paclitaxel and bevacizumab therapy, no mice (0%) had metastasis to contralateral lymph nodes (Figure 9B).

[0089] Lung metastasis occurred in 100% of the mice (n=8) in the control, bevacizumab alone, and nab-paclitaxel alone groups. The average metastatic burden in each group was as follows: 5 x 10⁴ ± 3 x 10⁴ RLU/mg protein (control), 6 x 10⁴ ± 1 1 x 10⁴ RLU/mg protein (bevacizumab), and 8 x 10⁴ ± 6 x 10⁴ RLU/mg protein (nab-paclitaxel). The combination therapy group had only one mouse positive for lung metastasis with a reading of 2 x 10⁴ RLU/mg protein (Figure 9C).

[0090] These results show that the HCC1806-RR model is an aggressive model of human breast cancer which grows well at the orthotopic location for in vivo animal modeling.

Additionally, this model mimics well the behavior of the human disease, including predominant metastasis to lymph nodes and metastasis to lungs as a secondary site. These results indicate that this model is appropriate for use in evaluation of triple-negative breast tumors and evaluation of new treatments for such tumors.

[0091] Additionally, the results show that the HCC1806-RR model is highly sensitive to nab-paclitaxel treatment, non-responsive to bevacizumab therapy, and most responsive to combination therapy. The HCC1806-RR model, which expresses high levels of SPARC, is also more responsive to combination therapy than the 231-Luc⁺ model as described in, e.g., Volk et al., Neoplasia, 10(6): 613-623 (2008), which is SPARC -negative.

EXAMPLE 7

[0092] This example demonstrates the effect of Nab-paclitaxel and bevacizumab therapy on primary tumor growth and metastasis in a SUM-149-RR tumor model.

[0093] Clone SUM-149-RR-1 -5A, as prepared in Example 1 and characterized in

Examples 3-5, was implanted at 4x10⁶ cells in the mammary fat pad. When the tumors reached a volume of 130-200 mm³, 10 mg/kg nab-paclitaxel was administered intravenously daily for five days (qdx5) for one cycle with bevacizumab (4mg/kg) administered

intraperitonealy biweekly for the duration of the study. Control mice were treated with bevacizumab alone, nab-paclitaxel alone, or untreated.

[0094] Minimal toxicity was associated with the treatment. As shown in Figure 10, there was a transient drop in the weight of mice treated with nab-paclitaxel of 7-12% of the total weight. After cessation of treatment, all mice regained their original weight within two weeks.

[0095] The control group reached a maximal volume in 48 days growing at an average rate of 58.3 ± 4.90 mm per day as shown in Figure 1 1. Several mice in the control group had inflamed, ulcerating tumors and all tumors when assessed during necropsy were very bloody in appearance and necrotic. Bevacizumab was not able to reduce the primary tumor volume, but the tumors grew at a much clower rate of 20.6 ± 1.62 mm³ per day. Notably, none of the mice that were treated with bevacizumab had ulcerating tumors. All of the mice that were treated with bevacizumab had white tumomrs that did not have a bloody appearance and were far less necrotic. Bevacizumab alone did not have a suppressive effect on the tumor until it was 650-700 mm in volume. Nab-paclitaxel alone reduced the primary tumor volume by 73% of the control in the first cycle of treatment, but the tumor was non- responsive to the second and third cycle of treatment and regrew at a rate of 26.2 ± 2.45 mm³ per day. All of the mice in this group had bloody and necrotic tumors that resembled the tumors of the control mice. The nab-paclitaxel and bevacizumab therapy was very efficacious. All tumors were responsive to treatment for all three cycles, resulting in a 96% reduction of the tumor volume. Two out of the nine mice (22%) had complete primary tumor response, but the remaining 7 had tumor recurrence growing at an average rate of 2 ± 0.93 mm³ per day after the start of the second treatment cycle. All of the visible tumors were white in appearance, similar to the bevacizumab treated mice.

[0096] These results show that the SUM149-RR model is more resistant to paclitaxel than the 231-Luc⁺ model as described in, e.g., Volk et al., Neoplasia, 10(6): 613-623 (2008).

[0097] All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

[0100] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and

"containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0101] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims

CLAIM(S):

1. A cell line for evaluating therapies for triple-negative breast cancer comprising a triple-negative breast cancer cell line expressing a fluorescent protein and a luciferase.

2. The cell line of claim 1 , wherein the fluorescent protein is a green fluorescent protein or a red fluorescent protein.

3. The cell line of claim 1 , wherein the luciferase is a Renilla luciferase or a firefly luciferase.

4. The cell line of claim 1 , wherein the triple-negative breast cancer cell line is HCC-1806.

5. A cell line for evaluating therapies for triple-negative breast cancer comprising a triple-negative breast cancer cell line transfected with one or more polynucleotides encoding a fluorescent protein and a luciferase.

6. The cell line of claim 5, wherein the fluorescent protein is a green fluorescent protein or a red fluorescent protein.

7. The cell line of claim 5, wherein the luciferase is a Renilla luciferase or a firefly luciferase.

8. The cell line of claim 5, wherein the triple-negative breast cancer cell line is HCC-1806.

9. A mouse for evaluating a therapy for triple-negative breast cancer comprising an immunologically deficient mouse comprising the cell line of any one of claims 1-8.

10. A method for evaluating a therapy of triple-negative breast cancer, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining a mouse of claim 9;

(b) maintaining the mouse for a tumor incubation period;

(c) treating the mouse with the therapy;

(d) maintaining the mouse for a post-treatment period; (e) determining the metastatic burden by fluorescent microscopy or a quantitative luciferase assay; and

(f) comparing the metastatic burden in the mouse of (a) with an untreated control mouse, wherein a statistically significant reduction in the metastatic burden in the mouse of (a) as compared to the control mouse indicates the therapy has activity.

1 1. The method of claim 10, wherein the therapy evaluated is selected from the group consisting of small molecules, chemotherapeutic agents, biologies, antibodies, antiangiogenic agents, radiation therapy, thermal therapy, gene therapy and combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 1 1, wherein the therapy evaluated is selected from the group consisting of genistein, ¹³¹I, ⁹⁰Y, ^{n i}In, ^{21 I}At, ³²P, adriamycin, ansamycin antibiotics, asparaginase, bleomycin, busulphan, cisplatin, carboplatin, carmustine, capecitabine, chlorambucil, cytarabine, cyclophosphamide, camptothecin, dacarbazine, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, dexrazoxane, docetaxel, doxorubicin, etoposide, epothilones, floxuridine, fludarabine, fluorouracil, gemcitabine, hydroxyurea, idarubicin, ifosfamide, irinotecan, lomustine, mechlorethamine, mercaptopurine, meplhalan, methotrexate, rapamycin, sirolimus, mitomycin, mitotane, mitoxantrone, nitrosurea, pamidronate, pentostatin, plicamycin, procarbazine, rituximab, streptozocin, teniposide, thioguanine, thiotepa, taxanes, vinblastine, vincristine, vinorelbine, taxol, combretastatins, discodermolides, transplatinum, bleomycin, hormones, tamoxifen, diethylstilbestrol, biologically active polypeptides, antibodies, lectins, toxins, Axitinib, Avastin, marimastat, bevacizumab,

carboxyamidotriazole, TNP-470, CM101, IFN-a, IL-12, platelet factor-4, suramin, SU5416, thrombospondin, VEGFR antagonists, angiostatic steroids, cartilage-derived angiogenesis inhibitory factor, matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors, angiostatin, endostati, 2- methoxyestradiol, tecogalan, thrombospondin, prolactin, ανβ3 inhibitors, tecogalan, BAY 12- 9566, AG3340, CGS27023A, COL-3, vitaxin, ZD0101 , TNP-40, thalidomide, squalamine, IM862, PTK787, fumagillin, analogues of fumagillin, BB-94, BB-2516 linomid, 17-AAG, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel and combinations thereof.

13. A cell line for evaluating therapies for inflammatory breast cancer comprising an inflammatory breast cancer cell line expressing a fluorescent protein and a luciferase.

14. The cell line of claim 13, wherein the fluorescent protein is a green fluorescent protein or a red fluorescent protein.

15. The cell line of claim 13, wherein the luciferase is a Renilla luciferase or a firefly luciferase.

16. The cell line of claim 13, wherein the triple-negative breast cancer cell line is SM149.

17. A cell line for evaluating therapies for inflammatory breast cancer comprising an inflammatory breast cancer cell line transfected with one or more polynucleotides encoding a fluorescent protein and a luciferase.

18. The cell line of claim 17, wherein the fluorescent protein is a green fluorescent protein or a red fluorescent protein.

19. The cell line of claim 17, wherein the luciferase is a Renilla luciferase or a firefly luciferase.

20. The cell line of claim 17, wherein the triple-negative breast cancer cell line is SUM149.

21. A mouse for evaluating a therapy for triple-negative breast cancer comprising an immunologically deficient mouse comprising the cell line of any one of claims 13-21.

22. A method for evaluating a therapy of triple-negative breast cancer, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining a mouse of claim 21 ;

(b) maintaining the mouse for a tumor incubation period;

(c) treating the mouse with the therapy;

(d) maintaining the mouse for a post-treatment period;

(e) determining the metastatic burden by fluorescent microscopy or a quantitative luciferase assay; and

(f) comparing the metastatic burden in the mouse of (a) with an untreated control mouse, wherein a statistically significant reduction in the metastatic burden in the mouse of (a) as compared to the control mouse indicates the therapy has activity.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the therapy evaluated is selected from the group consisting of small molecules, chemotherapeutic agents, biologies, antibodies, antiangiogenic agents, radiation therapy, thermal therapy, gene therapy and combinations thereof.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the therapy evaluated is selected from the group consisting of genistein, I, Y, In, At, P, adriamycin, ansamycin antibiotics, asparaginase, bleomycin, busulphan, cisplatin, carboplatin, carmustine, capecitabine, chlorambucil, cytarabine, cyclophosphamide, camptothecin, dacarbazine, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, dexrazoxane, docetaxel, doxorubicin, etoposide, epothilones, floxuridine, fludarabine, fluorouracil, gemcitabine, hydroxyurea, idarubicin, ifosfamide, irinotecan, lomustine, mechlorethamine, mercaptopurine, meplhalan, methotrexate, rapamycin, sirolimus, mitomycin, mitotane, mitoxantrone, nitrosurea, pamidronate, pentostatin, plicamycin, procarbazine, rituximab, streptozocin, teniposide, thioguanine, thiotepa, taxanes, vinblastine, vincristine, vinorelbine, taxol, combretastatins, discodermolides, transplatinum, bleomycin, hormones, tamoxifen, diethylstilbestrol, biologically active polypeptides, antibodies, lectins, toxins, Axitinib, Avastin, marimastat, bevacizumab,

carboxyamidotriazole, TNP-470, CMlOl, IFN-a, IL-12, platelet factor-4, suramin, SU5416, thrombospondin, VEGFR antagonists, angiostatic steroids, cartilage-derived angiogenesis inhibitory factor, matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors, angiostatin, endostati, 2- methoxyestradiol, tecogalan, thrombospondin, prolactin, ανβ3 inhibitors, tecogalan, BAY 12- 9566, AG3340, CGS27023A, COL-3, vitaxin, ZD0101 , TNP-40, thalidomide, squalamine, IM862, PTK787, fumagillin, analogues of fumagillin, BB-94, BB-2516 linomid, 17-AAG, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel and combinations thereof.