Thus, in normal epithelia, the role of a Rab17–Vamp8 complex might be to transcytose these receptors to the apical domain but, in partially transformed comedo-like tumours, Rab17 and Vamp8 strive to oppose the transition to invasive carcinoma by actively retaining NRP2 safely within the late endosomal system. This evidence concerns the gene RAB17 and invasive carcinoma.