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).
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.