Upon decreased oxygenconcentration (hypoxia), such as that observed in solid tumours, HIF1A escapes proline hydroxylationand degradation to bind its constitutively expressed partner HIF1B (hypoxia-inducible factor1β) and drive the expression of many genes involved in glycolysis, angiogenesis, cellsurvival and cancer progression [3]. The gene discussed is HIF1A; the disease is cancer.