Estrogen regulation of mammary gland development and breast cancer: Amphiregulin takes center stage

Abstract

Estrogen-mediated proliferation is fundamental to normal mammary gland development. Recent studies have demonstrated that amphiregulin is a critical paracrine regulator of estrogen action during ductal morphogenesis. These studies implicate a critical role for amphiregulin in mammary stem cell differentiation as well as breast cancer initiation and progression. © 2007 BioMed Central Ltd.