MAF and breast carcinoma: Amongst the distinct traits that MICs may have it was recently shown that the 16q23 gain is selectively associated with bone metastasis risk in early-stage breast cancer and that the transcription factor V-Maf avian musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog (MAF) encoded within this region acts as a mediator of metastasis to bone by regulating the expression of the osteotropic factor PTHrP [23].