The expression of cytoplasmic PHD2 (106/121, 88%), cytoplasmic PHD3 (80/125, 64%) and VEGF (101/119, 84%) was significantly associated with familial breast cancers as a combined group compared with sporadic cancers (cytoplasmic PHD2 (65/165, 39%), cytoplasmic PHD3 (65/165, 39%), VEGF (92/182, 51%)) (all P<0.001). The gene discussed is EGLN3; the disease is breast cancer.