G9a controls pluripotent-like identity and tumor-initiating function in human colorectal cancer.

Colorectal tumors are hierarchically organized and governed by populations of self-renewing cancer stem cells, representing one of the deadliest types of cancers worldwide. Emergence of cancer stemness phenotype depends on epigenetic reprogramming, associated with profound transcriptional changes. As described for pluripotent reprogramming, epigenetic modifiers play a key role in cancer stem cells by establishing embryonic stem-like transcriptional programs, thus impacting the balance between self-renewal and differentiation.