ATM and NLK genes were also observed to be significantly down-regulated in established BL cell lines (Namalwa, Raji Ramos, Daudi, Thomas, BL41, BL2, BL30, BL70, CA46, and Gumbus) compared to GC B cells (Additional file 9), supporting the notion that loss of these genes are critical to eBL lymphomagenesis and tumor cell survival. This evidence concerns the gene NLK and neoplasm.