Interestingly induction of ERBB2/HER2 expression has been shown to increase MCL1 mRNA levels in MCF-7 cells41, perhaps explaining the high level of MCL-1 protein we find in ERBB2/HER2-positive disease and it is possible that while not prognostic, these tumours could still depend on MCL-1 for survival42 as was indeed observed in a very recent study from the Lindeman group23. This evidence concerns the gene ERBB2 and neoplasm.