ULK1 and cancer: We identified multiple frequently somatic mutated genes in EPCs and divided them into several subsets including PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway genes (PIK3CA, AKT1, ULK1, MAP3K1, MAP2K4, RHOA, and PTEN) (27/41, 65.8%), chromatin modification genes (ZFPM1, GATA3, CTCF, and KMT2C) (21/41, 51.2%), and Cancer Gene Census genes (CGC) (SPEN, CBFB, and ATM) (Fig. 3).