Based on the observations that IL-33 exhibited a pro-angiogenic effect in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) via Akt signalling29 and that sST2 expression in human and mouse CRC cells resulted in decreased tumour vessel density (Figs 1, 2, 3, 4), we investigated the involvement of sST2 in the inhibition of IL-33-mediated angiogenic responses of HUVECs. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.