Premium
Mammary stem cells and progenitors: targeting the roots of breast cancer for prevention
Author(s) -
Tharmapalan Pirashaanthy,
Mahendralingam Mathepan,
Berman Hal K,
Khokha Rama
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.15252/embj.2018100852
Subject(s) - biology , stem cell , breast cancer , progenitor cell , cancer research , cancer stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer , genetics
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.