However, when considering all cancer types and cell lines, APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B expression was significantly associated with sensitivity to 16 and 38 drugs, respectively (false discovery rate <5 %, correlation adjusted for tissue type; Additional file 2: Table S1c, d), raising the possibility that expression of these genes could mediate or mark sensitivity to anti-cancer agents. This evidence concerns the gene APOBEC3A and cancer.