Patent ID: 8394780

Claim:
A method for treating a breast condition in a subject, comprising: (a) determining a PAX2-to-DEFB1 expression ratio in breast tissue from said subject; (b) determining an estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR) status of said breast tissue from said subject; and (c) based on the results of (a) and (b), administering to a breast tissue of said subject, a composition that inhibits PAX2 expression or PAX2 activity, wherein said composition comprises one or more agents selected from the group consisting of a polynucleotide encoding an siRNA for PAX2, a polynucleotide that blocks binding of PAX2 to a DEFB1 promoter, an antagonist of angiotensin II, an antagonist of angiotensin II receptor, an antagonist of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), an antagonist of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK), an antagonist of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1,2 (ERK1,2), an antagonist of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and a blocker of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) signaling pathway and wherein said composition that blocks the binding of PAX2 to the DEFB1 promoter comprises a polynucleotide comprising SEQ ID NO:1.