Genes associated with angiogenesis including vascular endothelial growth factor have been identified in samples of diseased Achilles tendons.15 Furthermore, IL-8 is a significant promoter of angiogenesis.16 This NFκB signature of Achilles tendon ruptures was not a feature of tissue samples collected from patients with large-massive rotator cuff tendon tears.8, Table 1 summarises the comparative features of disease in functionally distinct tendons such as the Achilles and rotator cuff. This evidence concerns the gene NFKB1 and tendinitis.