| abstract |
Methods for treating, preventing and predicting a subject's risk of developing breast cancer are provided. In one aspect, a method of predicting a subject's risk of developing breast cancer is provided, wherein the method includes: (a) determining the frequency in a breast tissue sample of CD44+, CD24- breast epithelial cells, and (b) predicting that the subject has a relatively elevated risk of developing breast cancer if the frequency of CD44+, CD24- breast epithelial cells is decreased compared to a first control frequency of CD44+, CD24- breast epithelial cells; or (c) predicting that the subject has a relatively reduced risk of developing breast cancer if the frequency of CD44+breast epithelial cells is increased compared to a second control frequency of CD44+, CD24- breast epithelial cells. |