BRCA1 and BRCA2 have been identified as tumour suppressors for several different hormone-responsive cancer types (breast and prostate cancers (BRCA1 and BRCA2) and endometrial and cervical cancer (BRCA1)) and a non-endocrine cancer type (pancreas cancer (BRCA1 and BRCA2)) (Struewing et al, 1997; Thompson and Easton, 2002; Aretini et al, 2003; Edwards et al, 2003). The gene discussed is BRCA1; the disease is malignant endocrine neoplasm.