Such an overlapping feature of ‘OIS intermediates’ with increased progenitor markers and reduced levels of MYC targets is reminiscent of recently identified tumour-initiating cells (TICs), which are characterized by a TGFβ-responding slow-cycling state in a mouse model of ectopic HRAS(G12V)-driven early squamous cell carcinoma34. This evidence concerns the gene MYC and neoplasm.