Breast cancer stroma was associated with genes encoding matrix components, including COL11A1, COL10A1, COMP, MMP11, FN1, MFAP2, TNXB and MATN2, consistent with the robust ECM remodeling frequently observed within breast tumors, whereas prostate cancer stroma was associated with deregulated expression of homeobox genes including NKX3-1, HOXB13 HOXC6, HOXD11 and HOXD13, implicated in differentiation processes during development. The gene discussed is COMP; the disease is prostate carcinoma.