SETD2 and cancer: Reduction in epithelial-associated gene expression (e.g., E-cad and β-catenin) and increasing the mesenchymal-like gene expression (e.g., N-cad and vimentin) are the hallmark of hypoxia-induced EMT in cancer cells.15 HIF-1 can initiate hypoxia-induced apoptosis by increasing the expression of Bcl-2 binding proteins and impeding the anti-apoptotic function of Bcl-2.