Insights into the targeted elimination of BRCA1-defective cancer stem cells

BRCA1 expression is involved in normal embryonic development, mammary stem cell differentiation, and prostate cancer development. Inactivation of BRCA1 plays an important role in cancer stem cells and also leads to the development of high-grade, basal-like tumor. This review discusses why BRCA1-defective cancer stem cells need a prospective analysis, how ER alpha could influence BRCA1-defective tumor progression, phenotype of BRCA1-defective cancers, role of BRCA1 in other cancers and finally at what perspective BRCA1-defective cancers can be targeted for better therapeutic outcome.