We demonstrate: i) overexpression of ADA3 enhances cell proliferation in immortal and tumor mammary epithelial cells; ii) increased expression of ADA3 correlates with overexpression of c-MYC; iii) ADA3 and c-MYC expression categorize breast cancers into four groups; ADA3Low/c-MYCLow, ADA3High/c-MYCLow, ADA3Low/c-MYC High and ADA3High/c-MYCHigh; iv) c-MYC High and ADA3 Low status independently predicts poor survival in patients. Here, MYC is linked to breast carcinoma.