The cells that compose the epithelium are constantly turning over via cell division and death. For an adult tissue to maintain homeostasis, the numbers of cells that divide must match those that die, yet how this is controlled is not well understood. Epithelial cancers (or carcinomas) result when this balance is lost and too many cells accumulate. Our lab is investigating if extrusion due to overcrowding of cells could drive apoptosis to control cell numbers.