To identify suitable EC genes for breast cancer gene expression studies in fresh-frozen primary tissue, a panel of 11 genes commonly used as ECs was selected from the literature for analysis of stability: GAPDH, TFRC, ABL, PPIA, HPRT1, RPLP0, B2M, GUSB, MRPL19, PUM1 and PSMC4. Genes were analysed in tumours recovered from patients with benign or malignant breast disease using RQ-PCR. The gene discussed is HPRT1; the disease is neoplasm.