CROWN-LIKE STRUCTURES AS A BIOMARKER FOR CANCER RISK AND CANCER PROGNOSIS

摘要

Chronic inflammation increases the risk of several epithelial malignancies. The present invention provides methods for determining cancer risk in a patient which comprises detecting the presence of crown-like structures (CLS), methods for treating cancer associated with CLS presence, methods for determining cancer risk in a patient by quantifying the number of CLS in a sample of adipose tissue of the patient, methods of determining prognosis of a patient with breast cancer or other cancers by detecting CLS, and screening methods for anti-cancer agents or agents that inhibit or reduce CLS formation or consequences thereof.