As NDRG1 is known to be regulated by AP-1 network genes in response to stress-induced activation of kinases (22, –, 25), this model confirms and extends our recent report that progesterone modulates the effect of surgical stress by up-regulation of NDRG1 in primary breast cancer patients (26), affecting the invasive characteristics of breast cancer cells most likely by regulating their migration. The gene discussed is NDRG1; the disease is breast cancer.