To determine whether NF-κB and STAT3 activation occurred before tumors were present, we examined NF-κB and STAT3 activity in splenic B cells from tumor-free (premalignant) or tumor-bearing (malignant) iMycEμ mice, using splenomegaly and age as two independent indicators of tumor progression. The gene discussed is NFKB1; the disease is neoplasm.