This study utilised the phospho-EGFR Tyr 1086 antibody in breast cancers (Nieto et al, 2007) and reported a lack of association with EGFR, as was also found in our colorectal cancers and has been reported in other epithelial malignancies (Cunningham et al, 2005; Kong et al, 2006). The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is breast carcinoma.