Epithelial regeneration and cancer: news from the Src front

Src family kinases (SFKs) have long been implicated in tumorigenesis, but the exact requirement for individual kinase members, and their specific spatially and temporally defined roles in the maintenance of epithelial homeostasis remained unclear. A study by Cordero et al ( 2014 ) now combines the strengths of Drosophila and mouse models for intestinal epithelial regeneration to characterize the role of individual SFKs in epithelial stem cells, tissue regeneration, and tumorigenesis. Graphical Abstract The experimental power of Drosophila and mouse models enables the functional dissection of distinct Src family kinase family members in the homeostasis of intestinal stem cells.