We found that 17 of 59 genes related to regulation of cell differentiation were SOX2 targets in GBM cells including ACIN1 (apoptotic chromatin condensation inducer 1), BMPR1B (bone morphogenetic protein receptor, type IB), ETS1 (V-ets erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog 1), SHH (sonic hedgehog homolog, Drosophila), IGFBP3 (insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3) and RUNX1 (Runt-related transcription factor 1) (Additional File 5). Here, RUNX1 is linked to glioblastoma.