On the basis of certain similarities in the ultrastructural morphology of TCs and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) as testified by the former name of TCs (i.e. ICC-like cells)3, it has been reported that TCs from some organs may share with the ICC also the expression of c-kit/CD117, though subsequent researches either failed to confirm those findings or demonstrated that TCs are negative for c-kit/CD117 in other organs1–4,6,9,10,37,38,52. Here, KIT is linked to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.