We previously found that NOTCH1‐dependent leukemia requires β‐catenin activity for the initial stage of leukemic transformation, and demonstrated a direct correlation between β‐catenin deficiency and reduced number of leukemia initiating cells (LIC; Gekas et al, 2016), which is in agreement with other reports (Kaveri et al, 2013; Dose et al, 2014; Giambra et al, 2015). This evidence concerns the gene NOTCH1 and leukemia.