Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of diagnosing cancer and pre-cancerous conditions in human breast. The disclosure further relates to methods of prognosticating the likely success of clinical treatments for breast cancer. The disclosure further relates to kits suitable for performing the present methods.

Abstract: A method of amplifying and quantifying a mRNA transcript of the &agr; or &bgr; isoform of the ER; a method of generating an expression profile of mRNA transcripts of the &agr; or &bgr; isoform of the ER, wherein the mRNA transcripts comprise wild-type or alternatively spliced exons, comprising reverse-transcribing the mRNA transcript, amplifying the resulting cDNA using a targeted primer and a partner primer, contacting the resulting amplicons with a probe, detecting the probe, and quantifying the detected probe; isolated oligonucleotides to be used as a targeted primer, partner primer, or probe; a method of determining a hyperproliferative condition or a predisposition to a hyperproliferative condition, such as breast cancer or a risk for breast cancer; a method of screening candidate therapeutic treatments for an ER-sensitive condition; and a method of prognosticating response of a mammal to a therapeutic treatment of breast cancer; and other methods.