Those down-regulated TFs in SCLC (JUNB, NFKB1, VENTX, CREB3L1, REST, RARB, FOXO1, EGR1, TP63, ZBTB7A, STAT3, MEOX1, FOSL2, RARG, GATA5, RXRA, NPAS2, LEF1, BCL6, TCF12) were functionally linked to cell differentiation (‘positive regulation of cell differentiation’, ‘epithelial cell differentiation’) and immune responses (‘inflammatory response’, ‘T cell aggregation’, ‘positive regulation of cytokine production, ‘leukocyte migration’) (Additional file 2: Table S2). This evidence concerns the gene NPAS2 and small cell lung carcinoma.