The functional role of maspin during the slow multi-stage breast tumor progression was investigated in a BALB/c MMTV/TGF-alpha transgenic mouse model where a direct correlation between maspin downregulation and tumor progression and metastasis was observed, and the loss of maspin expression paralleled the transition from carcinoma in situ to invasive carcinoma [37]. The gene discussed is TGFA; the disease is in situ carcinoma.