Platelet-activating factor, another substrate for alk-SMase, has important implications in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver cirrhosis (Yang et al, 2004), endotoxin- and alcohol-induced hepatic apoptosis and necrosis (Murohisa et al, 2002), and liver metastasis of colon cancer (Denizot et al, 2005). The gene discussed is ENPP7; the disease is colonic neoplasm.