Interestingly, we found that AMPK scores were significantly negatively correlated with TF expression levels in glioma: E2F4 (rho = − 0.48, P < 0.0001), EZH2 (rho = − 0.57, P < 0.0001), FOXM1 (rho = − 0.49, P < 0.0001), SMAD4 (rho = − 0.18, P < 0.0001) and SUZ12 (rho = − 0.23, P < 0.0001) (Fig. 6a). The gene discussed is E2F4; the disease is central nervous system cancer.