HES1 and cancer: Hes1, a transcription factor under the regulation of the NOTCH, Hedgehog and Wnt axes [30], belongs to the extensive family of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins, which are essential in modulating the cell cycle, growth, differentiation, survival and apoptosis in endocrine, neuronal, and T-lymphocyte progenitors as well as various cancers.