The first example of the link between SWI/SNF chromatin remodelers and cancer development was the fact that 100% of malignant rhabdoid tumors (MRTs), a particularly aggressive type of childhood cancer, were found to carry mutations in the SMARCB1 gene (BAF47 protein) (Versteege et al., 1998). The gene discussed is SMARCB1; the disease is cancer.