In the multivariate Cox regression survival analysis, low mRNA expression of TMPRSS1 (P = 0.023; HR, 2.065; 95 % CI, 1.106-3.856; Table 3; Fig. 3a) and TMPRSS3 (P = 0.013; HR, 2.106; 95 % CI, 1.167-3.800; Table 3; Fig. 3b) remained independent factors for predicting poor breast cancer survival. The gene discussed is HPN; the disease is breast cancer.