By comparing gene expression programmes regulated by dexamethasone (Dex)- and CpdA-liganded GR in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells and integrating our data sets with clinical breast cancer gene expression data sets, we find that Dex- but not CpdA-liganded GR binds to a precisely defined GRE, to directly regulate genes associated with breast cancer progression. The gene discussed is NR3C1; the disease is breast cancer.