Some cancer cells (acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and colorectal cancer) are capable of secreting this protein, while other cancer cells translocate galectin-9 onto the surface [1] and use it to impair anti-cancer activities of cytotoxic lymphoid cells such as cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells [1–6]. The gene discussed is LGALS9; the disease is cancer.