Previous immunohistochemical studies of S100A4 showed an overexpression in 41% of breast carcinomas (Rudland et al, 2000), 55% of gastric carcinomas (Yonemura et al, 2000), 94% of colorectal adenocarcinomas (Takenaga et al, 1997b), 93% of invasive pancreatic carcinomas (Rosty et al, 2002), and 25% of oesophageal squamous carcinoma. The gene discussed is S100A4; the disease is breast carcinoma.