Whereas TGFβ1 seems to be confirmed as a marker of bad prognostic in a number of human tumours such as colorectal (Tsushima et al, 1996; Picon et al, 1998) and prostatic (Ivanovic et al, 1995; Shariat et al, 2004) cancers, the impact of TGFβ1 on the progression of breast cancer remains uncertain. The gene discussed is TGFB1; the disease is breast carcinoma.