The role of the tumour microenvironment is well-known with respect to disease development and progression, and SLC3A2 appears to have a role in this, as the SLC3A2 heavy chain binds to the cytoplasmic tail of integrin β1, which in turn mediates extracellular matrix remodelling that controls cell spreading, survival and growth.43, 44 The SLC3A2 interaction with integrin is well studied in renal cancer cell35 and the current study also confirmed the positive correlation between gene expressions in all BC subtypes. The gene discussed is SLC3A2; the disease is neoplasm.