In vivo, simultaneous co-injection of primary breast cancer cells and ASCs into nude mice suggested ASCs did not differentiate into adipocytes (Additional file, Figure 2, H&E), rather integrated into the tumor stroma, exacerbating tumorigenicity of primary breast cancer cells, which formed tumors increased in size and highly vascularized, although breast cancer cells phenotype, in terms of hormonal receptors, remained unchanged (Additional file, Figure 4). The gene discussed is NR4A1; the disease is breast carcinoma.