Epithelial and/or stromal syndecan-1 expression is of prognostic value in many carcinomas, but because recent results are contradictory in breast carcinomas (Barbareschi et al, 2003; Leivonen et al, 2004), we have re-evaluated the prognostic significance of syndecan-1 expression in a homogeneous cohort of patients with invasive ductal breast carcinomas. The gene discussed is SDC1; the disease is invasive ductal breast carcinoma.