In accordance with this, preliminary data obtained reveal that the expression of both StAR mRNA and StAR protein was markedly high in transgenic (Tg) mouse models of breast cancer, activated by MMTV promoter driven cNeu and H-Ras oncogenes, and polyomavirus, in comparison to nearly undetectable level of StAR in normal Tg mammary tissue. Here, HRAS is linked to breast carcinoma.