One of the major functions of THBS1 in the prostate is to convert latent TGFβ into its active form (Fitchev et al. 2010), but it can also serve as a potential biomarker to distinguish benign prostatic hyperplasia from malignant prostate cancer in epithelia (Shafer et al. 2007), suggesting its role in prostate cancer progression. The gene discussed is TGFB1; the disease is Familial prostate cancer.