SOAT2 and cancer: Among this gene network, the largest differences were observed in the 9-fold increased sterol O-acyltransferase 2 gene (SOAT2) (p = 0.006), a protein involved in cholesterol metabolism that has been implicated in various types of cancer including epithelial and liver cancer as well as hepatocellular carcinoma, melanoma, and acute myeloid leukemia.