Given that chemo- and immunopreventive interventions appear to be more effective at reducing tumor incidence and burden in Apc+/Min-FCCC mice when administered prior to polyp formation vs. after development of the first polyp (4, 5), we reasoned that the initiated colonic mucosa of tumor-free Apc+/Min-FCCC mice might differ from that of Apc+/Min-FCCC mice bearing at least one macroscopic tumor. The gene discussed is APC; the disease is neoplasm.