Especially the facts that (i) TAK1 or IKK2 inhibition induces cell death of tumor- but not of primary-mast cells [32] and that (ii) TAK1 or IKK2 inhibition overcomes the resistance of tumor cells to c-Kit inhibitors, suggest that targeting of the c-Kit-TAK1-IKK2 signaling module is a novel, specific and effective approach to therapeutically target pathogenic cellular effector functions. The gene discussed is IKBKB; the disease is neoplasm.