Increased Cholesterol Biosynthesis Is a Key Characteristic of Breast Cancer Stem Cells Influencing Patient Outcome (Cell Reports)

Ehmsen et al. identify cholesterol biosynthesis as essential for breast cancer stem cell propagation. Increased expression of multiple cholesterol biosynthesis proteins is observed in mammospheres, and the expression levels of these proteins correlate with the outcome of basal-like breast cancer patients. Inhibition of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway reduces mammosphere formation.