In vitro treatment with nerve growth factor (NGF), for instance, has been shown to induce differentiation of cancer cell lines such as PC12 (pheochromocytoma 12) or SH-SY5Y (human neuroblastoma) cells into neuron-like phenotypes, complete with VGIC expression, action potential firing, and excitability-driven calcium flux28,29. The gene discussed is NGF; the disease is cancer.