Although elevated Pyk2 expression and tyrosine phosphorylation can enhance carcinoma, glioblastoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia tumor growth (Gil-Henn et al., 2024; Sbrana et al., 2023), it remains unclear at a fundamental level how Pyk2-generated signals are distinct from those induced by FAK (Thomas et al., 2019). The gene discussed is PTK2B; the disease is carcinoma.