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Updated: Jun 24, 2025
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Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples
Published on: October 2, 2020
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Associations of stem cell markers CD44, CD24 and ALDH1A1 with mammographic breast density in women with benign breast
Lusine Yaghjyan1, Yujing J Heng2, Gabrielle M Baker2
1University of Florida, College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, Gainesville, FL, USA. lyaghjyan@ufl.edu.
British Journal of Cancer
|June 7, 2024
Summary
Breast stem cell markers CD44, CD24, and ALDH1A1 are associated with mammographic breast density (MBD), a key breast cancer risk factor. These findings link cellular characteristics to MBD, offering insights into breast cancer risk.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biomarkers
- Breast Cancer Research
Background:
- Mammographic breast density (MBD) is a significant risk factor for breast cancer (BCa).
- Breast stem cell markers, including CD44, CD24, and ALDH1A1, are implicated in cancer development.
- The relationship between these specific stem cell markers and MBD requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between CD44, CD24, and ALDH1A1 expression and MBD.
- To determine if breast stem cell marker expression correlates with breast cancer risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 218 women with benign breast disease from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and NHSII.
- Assessed immunohistochemistry (IHC) expression of CD44, CD24, and ALDH1A1 in breast tissue microarrays.
- Correlated marker expression with MBD measurements (percent density, dense and non-dense areas) using generalized linear regression, adjusting for BCa risk factors.
Main Results:
- Stromal CD44 and ALDH1A1 expression showed positive associations with percent density (PD) and inverse associations with non-dense area (NDA).
- Epithelial CD24 expression was inversely associated with PD.
- Stromal and epithelial CD24 expression demonstrated positive associations with NDA.
Conclusions:
- Expression levels of breast stem cell markers CD44, CD24, and ALDH1A1 are significantly associated with mammographic breast density.
- These findings suggest a potential link between specific stem cell marker profiles and MBD, a known breast cancer risk indicator.
