Our results reveal that hTRM9L-induced tumour growth inhibition in SW620 cells is not due to increased apoptosis or autophagy; rather it is caused by a growth arrest phenotype that only partially recapitulates the expression of key markers of a canonical senescence phenotype (Collado & Serrano, 2006; Narita et al, 2006; Xue et al, 2007). The gene discussed is TRMT9B; the disease is neoplasm.