SOX9 and hepatocellular carcinoma: We also found that most genes in a custom HCC CSC signature, including PROM1 (CD133), CD24, EPCAM, KRT19, LGR5, THY1, ICAM1, SOX9, POU5F1, NANOG, and KLF4, were positively correlated with SETDB1 expression (Fig. 6F), reinforcing its association with progenitor-like states and tumor-initiating potential.