It is noteworthy that the LASP1 gene maps to a region (17q12) that is altered in 20–30% of human breast cancers (Tomasetto et al, 1995a, 1995b) and tumours bearing amplifications of 17q11-21 are associated with an adverse prognosis because of increased resistance to chemotherapy and endocrine therapy (Ross and Fletcher, 1999). Here, LASP1 is linked to neoplasm.