Exploring a possible ZAR1 function in cancer, we found that ZAR1 expression (n = 917, CCLE Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia) significantly correlated with genes that carry the GO-terms ‘regulation of RNA metabolic processes’, ‘cell communication’, ‘signal transduction’, ‘cell–cell signalling’, ‘anatomical structure development’, and ‘embryonic morphogenesis’ (Additional file 1: Figure S1c). The gene discussed is ZAR1; the disease is cancer.