The possible association of age and growth-related gene expression changes with childhood cancers has been highlighted for rhabdomyosarcoma: imprinted growth genes (Igf2, Mest, Plagl1, Peg3 &Dlk1), whose decreased expression is associated with growth deceleration in rodents [6], show increased expression in human rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines [8]. The gene discussed is DLK1; the disease is rhabdomyosarcoma.