Next, we established HDAC1-overexpressing HCT-116 and HT-29 cells (Additional file 1: Fig. S6a) and found that HDAC1 overexpression leads to similar results with SOX4 in HCT-116 and HT-29 cells, including enhancement of spere-forming and self-renewal capacities (Fig. 6c), increase in the frequency of sphere-forming (Fig. 6d and Additional file 1: Fig. S6b) and tumor-initiating cells (Fig. 6e and Additional file 1: Fig. S6c) as well as elevation of CRC-SCs markers (Additional file 1: Fig. S6d and Fig. 6f). Here, HDAC1 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.