In general, in tumours (lung and oesophagus) associated with environmental carcinogens, alterations in the FHIT gene occur early in cancer development, but are thought to be a late event in other cancers and possibly associated with cancer progression to more aggressive neoplasia (Croce et al, 1999; Kitamura et al, 2001). The gene discussed is FHIT; the disease is neoplasm.