Given the facts that p16 knockdown can only partially restore GCSC characteristics in CBX7-deficient gastric cancer cells and that CBX7 can also regulate GCSC phenotype in p16-defcient MKN-28 gastric cancer cells, we speculate that CBX7 may regulate gastric cancer stem cell properties through pathways that are independent of p16. Here, CDKN2A is linked to gastric cancer.