Moreover, increased Sphk1 activity was sufficient to promote NIH 3T3 fibroblast growth in soft agar and tumor formation in nude mice, expedite the G1/S transition, and increase DNA synthesis as well as the proportion of cells in the S phase of the cell cycle, which was through activation of Ras and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) signaling, suggesting a potential oncogenic function [19]. The gene discussed is SPHK1; the disease is neoplasm.