In the canonical model of the ERα signaling pathway (Fig 1C), E2‐bound ERα forms a homodimer that binds DNA at estrogen‐response elements (EREs), recruits NCOA1/2/3 (Metivier et al, 2003; Johnson & O'Malley, 2012), and activates the GREB1 gene, which is required for proliferation of ERα‐positive breast cancer cells (Ghosh et al, 2000; Rae et al, 2005; Deschenes et al, 2007; Liu et al, 2012; Srinivasan et al, 2013). This evidence concerns the gene NCOA1 and breast cancer.