Fessler et al (2009) showed upregulation of MUC1* in HER2-amplified/trastuzumab-resistant BC cells. Further treatment with MUC1* antagonists in addition to trastuzumab reversed that resistance (Fessler et al, 2009). Therefore, further studies on MUC1* are needed to confirm the previous data in clinical series. Finally, p53 and Ki67, two well-known prognostic factors (Jansen et al, 1998; Yamashita et al, 2004) that were increased in a significant number of tumours and associated with poor pathological features, lacked significance with respect to survival. This evidence concerns the gene TP53 and breast cancer.