The expression of hTERT can be regulated by promoter methylation or chromatin remodeling,27, 28 as well as by activators and repressors, such as USF1/2, Sp1, TGF-β, p53 and c-Myc.29, 30, 31 This study is the first to present a novel mechanism involved in hTERT expression regulation in CRC, demonstrating that hTERT transcription activation depends on KRT23. Here, TGFB1 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.