MCAM and breast cancer: Analysis of our previously published gene expression data of 227 breast cancer samples profiled using oligonucleotide microarrays [34] also supported this conclusion: an expanded view of the hierarchical clustering of our tumor series showed that CD146 is included in a stromal gene cluster enriched in mesenchymal and vascular genes (see Additional data file 4), and is overexpressed in basal tumors as compared with luminal tumors (Figure 2).