Oestrogen receptor positive (ER+), triple negative and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 amplified (HER2+) cell lines were cultured with and without collagen IV.<h4>Results</h4>High expression of stromal collagen IV correlated with increased odds of dying of breast cancer (OR 2.50; 95% CI 1.16-5.39). Here, ERBB2 is linked to breast carcinoma.