Previous studies have shown that stromal-cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1), interleukin (IL)-3, IL-7, IL-8, CCL2, and stem cell factor (SCF), alone or in different combinations, were shown to promote the survival and (or) the proliferation of ALL cells, although the degree of stimulation is heterogeneous between patient samples and between growth factors7, 8, 9, 10, 11. The gene discussed is KITLG; the disease is acute lymphoblastic leukemia.