A: cell proliferation of MCF-7, MCF-7 cells resistant to fulvestrant (MCF-7/Fulv), and MCF-7 cells resistant to tamoxifen (MCF-7/Tam) at specific time points measured by MTT assay. Cells were seeded in 48-well culture plates (10,000 cells/well) and cultured in RPMI without phenol red supplemented with 10% charcoal-stripped serum (CSS) for 24, 48, and 72 h. Results are expressed as mean ± SD of % change to control parental MCF-7 cells at 24 h of at least three independent experiments. *Statistically significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) compared with control cells at the respective time points. B: quantification of colonies per optical field measured in colony formation assay of MCF-7, MCF-7/Fulv, and MCF-7/Tam. Results are expressed as mean ± SD of % change to control untreated cells of at least three independent experiments. *Statistically significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) compared with control cells. MTT, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-dimethyltetrazolium bromide.