DLGAP5, more often referred to as HURP (Hepatoma Up-Regulated Protein), plays critical roles in the tumorigenesis or resistance to therapy of several malignancies, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer and prostate cancer (Hassan et al., 2016; Liao et al., 2013; Shi et al., 2017). Here, DLGAP5 is linked to lung cancer.