An FGFR3 splice variant similar to that of FGFR3IIIS, with a deletion (bases 933–1269) overlapping that of FGFR3IIIc (bases 969–1315), has previously been described in normal breast epithelial and breast tumour cell lines (Johnston et al, 1995). This evidence concerns the gene FGFR3 and breast neoplasm.