The expression of CD117 and Sca-1 may signify the malignancy of the Lin+ cells, because CD117, a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor encoded by proto-oncogene c-kit, and Sca-1, a glycosylphosphatiylinositol-linked cell surface protein, have been identified as markers of cancer progression in various types of cancer [31]–[33]. The gene discussed is KIT; the disease is cancer.