Interestingly, the high level of SETDB1 mRNA was found to be sustained at all of the carcinogenic stages, independent of sex or age in NSCLC patients [2], indicating that SETDB1 functions in a pro-oncogenic role or a tumour suppressor role during different stages of tumourigenesis, which provides the possibility to utilize SETDB1 as a biomarker for early diagnosis and a potential therapeutic target in NSCLC. This evidence concerns the gene SETDB1 and non-small cell lung carcinoma.