PLAU and cancer: Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) also revealed a significant downregulation of the hypoxia pathway and HIF-1α target genes upon ASH1L depletion (Fig. 3a–d), particularly those involved in cancer cell invasion (Snail, TGFB, and MET), extracellular matrix remodeling (MMPs and PLAU), and angiogenesis (VEGFs).