The stem cell fate determinant Msi2 is commonly found to be expressed in carcinomas (Moreira et al., 2010; Kharas and Lengner, 2017; Uhlén et al., 2015; Uhlen et al., 2010) and Msi signaling has been shown to contribute to colon adenomas (Wang et al., 2015) and maintain the aggressive, undifferentiated state in hematologic malignancies and pancreatic cancer (Ito et al., 2010; Fox et al., 2016). The gene discussed is MSI2; the disease is familial pancreatic carcinoma.