More specifically, we identified genes that encode proteins which are critical for cell adherence to the epithelial basement membrane: ITGB1, ITGB6, RHOB, a putative tumor suppressor also commonly mutated in BC 7, 20, MMP7; (Fig 2G); the extracellular matrix organization LOXL2, LOXL4 and TIMP4, an epigenetically silenced putative tumor suppressor in bladder carcinoma 33, and epithelial development and differentiation (SMAD6, SOX2, EREG, WNT11, BMP2). This evidence concerns the gene EREG and urinary bladder carcinoma.