Despite some discouraging early trial results of DNMT and HDAC inhibitors in human patients with solid tumors, DNMT and HDAC inhibitors are currently extensively tested in human CRC patients in clinical trials, and it seems that sublethal and subtoxic doses of these epigenetic agents may be more effective if used as sensitizers, rather as direct inducers of cell death. The gene discussed is HDAC9; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.