Despite the evidence discussed in the previous section that AMPK-α1 and -β1 are tumour suppressors that protect against the development of B- and T-cell lymphomas as well as prostate cancer, other studies suggest that AMPK may protect the tumour cells (rather than the patient), and thus promote tumour formation, at least when disease is already established. This evidence concerns the gene PRKAB1 and T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.