Dysplasia with increased pHi in the absence of oncogenes is likely in part dependent on cancer-promoting pH sensors (Schönichen et al., 2013), including focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and the actin regulatory protein cofilin that support tumor growth and metastasis (Wang et al., 2007; Cance et al., 2013) and have increased activity at higher pHi (Frantz et al., 2008; Choi et al., 2013). The gene discussed is PTK2; the disease is cancer.