When comparing these microRNA profiles to the microRNA profile of mammary stem cells (MaSC) [23], although MaSCs have greater miR-10b and pre-miR-10b expression than parental MCF-7 cells (padj < 0.035 and < 0.014, respectively), there are no significant differences between sorted MCF-7 cells and MaSCs, demonstrating the utility of the CD44+/CD24–/low/ESA+ phenotype in selecting for a more stem-like population in breast cancer cells. Here, CD44 is linked to breast carcinoma.