When subjects were studied by the stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis, a significant increase for advanced stage (III or IV) breast cancer was seen for women with the XRCC1-399 Gln/Gln genotype (OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.05–7.81) compared to those with the Arg/Arg genotype. The gene discussed is XRCC1; the disease is breast cancer.