Krabbe disease (also known as globoid cell leukodystrophy) is a rare, inherited autosomal recessive disorder caused by loss of GALC function, leading to devastating and ultimately fatal neurodegeneration.1 As well as its role in Krabbe disease pathogenesis, GALC function has been linked to cell division, cancer metabolism, primary open-angle glaucoma, necrotizing enterocolitis and maintenance of a haematopoietic stem cell niche.2–6. This evidence concerns the gene GALC and cancer.