Two studies could show that mutations in DVC1 [also called Spartan (SPRTN) or C1orf124 in humans, functionally related to Wss1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae] are causative for genome instability phenotypes cumulating in hepatocellular carcinoma and progeria (Lessel et al., 2014; Maskey et al., 2014; Figure 1; Table 1). This evidence concerns the gene SPRTN and hepatocellular carcinoma.