Once NSLC is established in COPD lungs, the high levels of APRIL produced by leukocytes, AECs, and/or tumor cells themselves could promote NSCLC progression as APRIL potently promotes survival of tumor cells in vitro, and also when human tumors are transplanted into immune-deficient mice [31]. The gene discussed is TNFSF13; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.