The Alb–cre mediated inactivation of a floxxed Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) gene results in the massive expansion of a periportal, CK2 positive cell population, variously called oval cells (Benhamouche et al, 2010) or biliary epithelial ‘hamartomas’ (Zhang et al, 2010); this results in gross liver enlargement with the subsequent development of HCC, CC or tumours of mixed histology. The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is cholangiocarcinoma.