The lack of any increase of very short telomeres in U-HO1-PTPN1 RS-cells, contrary to the significant increase marking the transition from H- to RS-cells in HDLM-2, L-1236, U-HO1 and, most importantly, in patient biopsies, is consistent with the induction of apoptosis by PTPN1 expression since induction of apoptosis does not change the abundance of "t-stumps" in cancer cells [16]. The gene discussed is PTPN1; the disease is cancer.