Chronic exposure of epithelial cells to high levels of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) has recently been demonstrated to initiate stem cell transformation toward a luminal tumor-like phenotype through a BMP2-BMPR1B-dependent mechanism. Carcinogen-driven deregulation of the stem cell niche could therefore represent a driving force to promote transformation and dictate the ultimate breast tumor subtype.
Keywords: BMP; BMPR1B; bisphenol; breast tumor; carcinogen; epithelial stem cell; niche; pollutant.