A new study showed how the transcription factor NR2F1 blocks pre-malignant cells from disseminating, and could be a crucial diagnostic tool to predict relapse of breast cancer following surgical removal of breast tumors or radiation treatment. The authors found pre-malignant cells that simultaneously expressed low levels of NR2F1 and high levels of PRRX1 in patients’ ductal carcinoma in situ tissues, making them a specific pre-malignant subpopulation with potential to disseminate.