The feasibility of optical imaging with the B9-IR CAIX-specific nanobody was tested in a preclinical setting, with SCID/Beige mice that were orthotopically transplanted with MCF10DCIS cells expressing CAIX peri-necrotically (‘DCIS’ tumors) and MCF10DCIS cells stably expressing exogenous CAIX (“DCIS + CAIX” tumors). The gene discussed is CA9; the disease is ductal breast carcinoma in situ.