Cadmium Malignantly Transforms Normal Human Breast Epithelial Cells into a Basal-like Phenotype

Abstract

Cadmium malignantly transforms normal human breast epithelial cells-through a mechanism not requiring ER-alpha-into a basal-like cancer phenotype. Direct cadmium induction of a malignant phenotype in human breast epithelial cells strongly fortifies a potential role in breast cancer.