We have previously reported that the replication licensing pathway is deregulated early in epithelial carcinogenesis, and that the increased growth fraction detected by Mcm2–7 antibodies compared to Ki67 antibodies can be exploited for cancer detection and surveillance (Williams et al, 1998; Freeman et al, 1999; Stoeber et al, 1999, 2002; Wharton et al, 2001; Going et al, 2002). This evidence concerns the gene MCM2 and cancer.