In support of this, clinical studies have reported markedly elevated serum levels of VWF in breast cancer patients with more aggressive disease stage (TNM of T2) (TNM is a cancer staging system - tumour (T), node (N) and metastasis (M)) compared to those with less aggressive disease stage (TNM of T1) (p = 0.019). The gene discussed is VWF; the disease is breast carcinoma.