Engraftment of tumours within ECM components, in particular within Matrigel, a collagen IV- and laminin-rich matrix, has been shown to promote the survival and growth of established cancer cell lines, including HT1080 cells, cancer stem cells, and patient-derived tumours in mice69–71, consistent with the critical role of the ECM in tumorigenicity72. The gene discussed is LAMB2; the disease is neoplasm.