Over-expression of SPARC promotes tumor growth and was reported in a variety of human malignancies, including melanoma, breast cancer, esophageal cancer and gastric carcinoma [28,39-41], but other reports suggest that decreased SPARC expression is associated with increased tumorigenesis and metastases in human ovarian carcinoma and neuroblastoma [42,43]. The gene discussed is SPARC; the disease is breast carcinoma.