We also observed the downregulation of tubulointerstitial nephritis antigen-like 1 (TINAGL1) (Fig. 1e right; C4), which has been previously shown to exhibit a tumour suppressive role in breast cancer through binding to epithelial integrin α5β1, αvβ1, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), inhibiting focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and EGFR signal transduction53. This evidence concerns the gene TINAGL1 and breast cancer.