We provide VHZ for use in a method of treatment, prophylaxis or alleviation of a cancer, such as breast cancer, in an individual. We provide an anti-VHZ agent for the treatment, prophylaxis or alleviation of cancer. We further provide a kit for detecting breast cancer in an individual or susceptibility of the individual to breast cancer comprising means for detection of VHZ expression in the individual or a sample taken from him or her as well as a method of detecting a cancer cell, the method comprising detecting modulation of expression, amount or activity of VHZ in the cell.