In addition to the protective roles described, podoplanin is commonly upregulated in pathogenic tissues [e.g. rheumatoid joint, various cancers (Payne et al., 2017; Del Rey et al., 2014; Inoue et al., 2015; Schacht et al., 2005)] where it is believed to play a role in pathology. The gene discussed is PDPN; the disease is cancer.