Among human-derived cancer cell lines tested in this study, MCF7 (CD44-low) and MDA-MB-231 (CD44-high) had similar ROS responsiveness to SSZ and 2-DG, and 2-DG-induced ROS elevation was dose-dependently inhibited by HT (Supplementary Fig. 14c); these results suggest that the protective effects of HT against cell death are shared by HCT116 cells, and support the hypothesis that upregulation of PHGDH, PSAT1 and/or PSPH is necessary to support HT-dependent protecting mechanisms (Supplementary Fig. 14a). This evidence concerns the gene PHGDH and cancer.