As the association between fibrosis and the TGFβ1 (−509) polymorphism in breast cancer patients is a confirmation of previous independent analyses (Quarmby et al, 2003; Andreassen et al, 2005), the Boniferroni correction factor does not apply in this case, but the association would still be significant (P<0.05) if the correction factor was applied, as it would be for the association between XRCC1 (R399Q) and telangiectasia. This evidence concerns the gene XRCC1 and breast cancer.