Anyhow, based on our findings that (i) host TGFβ accelerates BC formation in metacestode vesicles, that (ii) inhibition of Echinococcus TGFβ/receptors prevents BC formation, and that (iii) supernatant of BC containing vesicles stimulates both BC formation in vesicles and parasite TGFβ receptor activity, we favor a model in which Echinococcus TGFβ/activin signalling generally counteracts the posteriorizing effects of wnt signalling in the metacestode. The gene discussed is TGFB1; the disease is breast cancer.