Tuft cells are chemosensory cells that increase in number following an injury or disease — including tumours — and activate innate immunity. In a study published in Oncogene, tuft cells were observed for the first time in mouse models of prostate cancer. Tuft cell markers were upregulated in old mice and in mice with increased disease severity. Importantly, tuft cells were found in samples from patients with prostate cancer, but not in healthy prostates. Lastly, a bioinformatic analysis led to the identification of several ligands expressed in tuft cells that could target immune cells to create a tumour immunosuppressive environment. Additional studies will be necessary to understand whether tuft cells can have a prognostic and/or therapeutic utility.