NGB and thyroid tumor: Indeed, some data suggest that NGB expression is higher in the breast, liver, bladder, and thyroid tumors than in normal tissues;17,18 other reports affirm that NGB expression is decreased in hepatoma;19 finally, other studies assert that NGB transcript is not detected in matched breast cancer/normal tissue cDNA microarrays.20 Thus, in principle, it is possible that the E2-dependent NGB-based protective pathway against oxidative stress could be active also in non-nervous peripheral tissues.