Overexpression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is reported to be correlated with a poor prognosis for gastric tumours (Naef et al, 1997; Maehara et al, 1999; Saito et al, 2000), especially scirrhous gastric carcinoma (Kinugasa et al, 1998; Hawinkels et al, 2007), suggesting that TGF-β signalling might have an important role in the progression of scirrhous gastric cancer cells (Inoue et al, 1997; Kinugasa et al, 1998; Kawajiri et al, 2008). This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and gastric cancer.