Our IHC analysis of breast tumor specimens based on highly discriminating antibodies revealed an up-regulation of NME1 levels in carcinoma cells in DCIS tumors as compared to surrounding non-malignant tissues, whereas NME1 levels were significantly reduced in synchronous invasive tumor foci and in microinvasive carcinoma buds extending beyond the ruptured basement membrane. Here, NME1 is linked to carcinoma.