Our studies suggest a potential functional link between the CHEK2 kinase and the BRCA2 tumour suppressor, which may explain in part the increased incidence of male breast cancer observed in families with germline mutations in both of these genes (Couch et al, 1996; Haraldsson et al, 1998; Meijers-Heijboer et al, 2002). This evidence concerns the gene BRCA2 and neoplasm.