Vimentin expression in tumor cells, fibronectin and MMP-11 in stroma were reliable markers of EMT; dual EMT and CSC phenotype (Vim+/ CD44+/ CD 24-/low) had a strong association with apocrine variant, basal-like tumors and triple negative cancers.
Typical Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) phenotypes like increased colony formation, sphere forming ability, migration and invasion were also confirmed in CD44(high)CD24(low) cells.
Significant association was observed between concordant expression of AR and CD24 (P = .001) with a favorable impact on survival (P = .007) whereas expression of CSC phenotypes (CD44<sup>+</sup>, CD44<sup>+</sup>/CD24<sup>-</sup> and ALDH1<sup>+</sup>) did not correlate with adverse outcome (P > .05).