KDM6A and esophageal cancer: ,28 Researchers also recently demonstrated a histone demethylation-independent role for UTX in normal and malignant T cells, mesoderm differentiation, and mouse embryonic development.29, 30, 31 Investigators identified somatic loss-of-function mutations of the UTX gene in a variety of human tumors, including multiple myeloma, esophageal cancer, and renal cancer.32