Controversy concerning the subcellular localisation of the BRCA1 protein has abounded, with it being reported as nuclear (Scully et al, 1996), nuclear in normal but cytoplasmic in breast and ovarian carcinoma cells (Chen et al, 1995), membrane associated on the cytoplasmic aspect of nuclear invaginations (Coene et al, 1997), or a secreted growth inhibitor (Holt et al, 1996; Jensen et al, 1996). This evidence concerns the gene BRCA1 and ovarian carcinoma.