TGF-β1 is frequently detected in squamous cell carcinomas (Eisma et al, 1996; Akhurst and Balmain, 1999) and it is likely that, independently of tumour cell responses to classical TGF-β1 signalling, the presence of LAP in the tumour stroma may modulate malignant cell behaviour through its interaction with integrins. This evidence concerns the gene TGFB2 and neoplasm.