By contrast, increased expression of TFF3 has been also detected in tumours, where it appears to act as a potent mitogen and inducer of epithelial migration associated with tumour invasion, resistance to apoptosis and metastasis.3 Furthermore, it has been shown that TFF3 prevents TP53-dependent apoptosis of gastrointestinal cancer cell lines in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) dependent manner.4 Overexpression of TFF3 significantly inhibits IL-1β induction of TNF-α, this effect was reversed after pre-treatment with the PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002.5 This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and neoplasm.