NPM is overexpressed in many types of human cancers 5 and is one of the most frequent sites of genetic alteration in haematopoietic tumours 6; chromosomal translocation of NPM gene with or without unusual cytoplasmic expression of NPM protein is reported to be associated with development of several forms of leukaemias or lymphomas 7,8. The gene discussed is NPM1; the disease is cancer.