Mammary stem cells and progenitors: targeting the roots of breast cancer for prevention.

ABSTRACT: Breast cancer prevention is daunting, yet not an unsurmountable goal. Mammary stem and progenitors have been proposed as the cells-of-origin in breast cancer. Here, we present the concept of limiting these breast cancer precursors as a risk reduction approach in high-risk women. A wealth of information now exists for phenotypic and functional characterization of mammary stem and progenitor cells in mouse and human. Recent work has also revealed the hormonal regulation of stem/progenitor dynamics as well as intrinsic lineage distinctions between mammary epithelial populations. Leveraging these insights, molecular marker-guided chemoprevention is an achievable reality.

SUBMITTER: Tharmapalan P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6627238 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature