Here we have examined the effect of DHEA and its analog DHEA 8354, initiated 6 weeks after carcinogen administration, when hyperplastic and premalignant lesions occur in the mammary gland, on the following: first, the incidence, multiplicity and weight (burden) of mammary tumors; second, the proliferative activity of tumor cells; third, apoptosis; fourth, cellular senescence; fifth, cell cycle distribution; and sixth, the expression of p53, p21, and p16. The gene discussed is CDKN2A; the disease is breast cancer.