Among the acquired variants found in NCCIT_CDDP cells we identified genes involved in cellular pathways crucial for survival, proliferation, metastatic dissemination as well as metabolic set up of cancer cells – e.g., genes involved in DNA damage repair (BCOR), chromatin remodeling (BRWD3, ATRX), major signaling pathways (MAP3K4, COMP), metabolic pathways (SLC22A2, HPSE) or maintenance of epithelial-mesenchymal balance (KDR). The gene discussed is HPSE; the disease is cancer.