While some studies failed to reveal any change in plasma TGFβ value in patients with breast cancer (Wakefield et al, 1995; Lebrecht et al, 2004), other reports demonstrate that patients with more advanced tumours have higher serum levels of TGFβ1 (Kong et al, 1995; Ivanovic et al, 2003), suggesting that serum TGFβ1 may reflect the severity of invasive breast cancer. The gene discussed is TGFB1; the disease is neoplasm.