CTHRC1 and breast cancer: CTHRC1 was initially identified in a screen for differentially expressed genes in balloon-injured versus normal rat vessels.17 Recent studies have demonstrated that aberrant expression of CTHRC1 is associated with tumor malignance in a variety of cancers, including breast cancer and gastric cancer.18, 19, 20, 21 We also reported that CTHRC1 expression is correlated with the progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer.7