PATZ1 and cancer: PATZ1 has been reported to play critical roles in spermatogenesis11, T cell lineage specification12, embryonic development13, apoptosis9, 14, proliferation13, 15, 16, senescence13, 17, stem cell identity18, reprogramming19, DNA damage response16 and cancer, where it seems to have a dual oncogene/tumour suppressor role5, 14, 15, 16, 20.