In addition to traditional prognostic factors in breast cancer such as tumour size, axillary lymph node status, histological grading and hormone receptor status (Clark et al, 1987; Chevallier et al, 1988; Carter et al, 1989; Nomura et al, 1992; Carriaga and Henson, 1995), newer parameters like Her-2/neu, cathepsin D or urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) are under consideration (Mansour et al, 1994; Schmitt et al, 1997). The gene discussed is SERPINE1; the disease is breast cancer.