Overexpression of H3K9Me3 and/or its methyltransferases, SETDB1 or SUV39H1/2, was shown to silence the expression of tumor suppressor genes, including p5333, HoxA34, Kruppel-like transcription factor 6 (KLF6)35 and p15INK4B and E-cadherin36 in liver cancer cells, melanoma, liposarcoma and acute myeloid leukemia, respectively. The gene discussed is SETDB1; the disease is acute myeloid leukemia.