OCIAD1, also designated as Asrij, is a relatively poorly characterized membrane protein believed to be involved in cancer development, neurodegenerative disease and stem cell homeostasis by integrating multiple signaling pathways such as Jak-STAT, Notch and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt ([16] and [17] as well as refs. therein). The gene discussed is SOAT1; the disease is cancer.