Because positive feedback is known to amplify a response into a self-sustained mode that is autonomous to the original stimuli, it is tempting to speculate that, once this feedback loop forms, PTPN9 expression will be maintained at a low level, and the miR-96-mediated cell function allows breast cancer cells to become more autonomous, e.g., to reproduce more rapidly and metastasize to new microenvironments. The gene discussed is PTPN9; the disease is breast cancer.