The cancer-restricted role of hnRNP L in caspase-9 AS is apparently due to NSCLC-specific phosphorylation of hnRNP L on Ser52, suggesting that cancer cell developed a device to switch an ubiquitous RBP into a prooncogenic protein through a specific posttranslational modification. The gene discussed is HNRNPL; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.