We further determine whether activity of Hippo signaling is involved in the effects of TFAP2C on chemoresistance and stemness in CRC cells, and found that individual silencing of YAP or TAZ attenuated the stimulatory effects of TFAP2C overexpression on sphere formation, SP fraction and mitochondrial potential in CRC cells (Additional file 12: Figure S7A–C). Here, TFAP2C is linked to colorectal carcinoma.