Alterations in TGF-β signaling activity have often been attributed to the deregulated expression of TGF-β signaling components.4,28,29 Interestingly, however, analysis of publicly available databases revealed only minor correlations between breast cancer patient survival and the expression of such molecules (i.e., ligands, receptors and SMADs) in breast cancers (Fig. 1a, b). This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and breast cancer.