This proto-oncogene is known to be associated with zinc status, as experiments have shown that human bronchial cells supplemented with zinc exhibit a two-fold increase of c-Fos mRNA in comparison to cells with a basal level of zinc.64 Therefore, the increased level of zinc (discovered here in endocrine resistant cells) as a direct result of ZIP7 activation could be one mechanism promoting c-Fos in breast cancer. This evidence concerns the gene SLC39A7 and breast cancer.