Recently, Fong et al (2000) demonstrated that N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine exposure caused a spectrum of visceral and skin tumours similar to Muir–Torre syndrome, caused by deficiency in an MMR gene, in Fhit-deficient mice, and suggested that the FHIT gene may be a target of damage in some of MMR-deficient tumours. This evidence concerns the gene MRC1 and neoplasm.