Physiological expression of ATF1, and the related CREB and CREM proteins, is required during murine and human embryonic development35–37, whereas gains in ATF1 expression and/or activity are associated with increased tumor cell survival, proliferation, and dissemination in different cancer types (Chen M et al, in press, 10.1016/j.gendis.2021.04.008). Here, ATF1 is linked to cancer.