An Approach to Identify Targets of Breast Cancer Stem Cells

The study described the molecular profile of mammary epithelial stem cells and breast cancer stem cells cultured in vitro, revealing potential mechanisms regulating these cells. The research aimed to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for breast cancer, as cancer stem cells were believed to resist conventional treatments, leading to disease relapse and metastasis. The researchers used a functional genomics approach to screen for these targets, suggesting that their culture system, based on authentic stem cells, might offer better relevance to human disease compared to traditional breast cancer cell lines.