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Table 1 EMT biomarkers currently under evaluation in the translational setting

From: The translational significance of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in head and neck cancer

Marker

Prognosis

Viral-association

Biomarker type

Study power

Concomitant markers

Reference (s)

Classic EMT pathways implicited

Snail 1

Poor PFS;⬆ TNM; ⬆ Metastasis; Proinflammatory

EBV47

IHC

N = 147 [49]

NBS; HIF1α (Hypoxia) E-/N Cadherin (Class switching)

[49]-[51]

In vitro

N = 733 [51]

N = 42 [50]

Snail 2 (Slug)

⬆ TNM; ⬆ Metastasis; ⬆ OS

 

IHC

N = 119 [52]

HIF1α

[52],[53]

In vitro

TWIST

Poor PFS; ⬆ Metastasis; ⬆ OS; ⬆Positive Nodal status

 

IHC

N = 147 [49]

HIF1α; Snail

[49],[54],[55]

In vitro

N = 109 [54]

N = 69 [55]

SIP1

⬆ Delayed-type neck metastasis

 

IHC

N = 37 [56]

 

[56]

In vitro

ZEB

--

 

In vitro

--

  

Canonical Developmental Pathways Implicated

Notch/Jagged/DLL4

--

 

Sequencing

N = 56 [57]

Hes/Hey1

[57]

Wnt/β-Catenin

--

 

IHC

N = 374 [58]

 

[58]

In vitro

Shh/GLI-1

⬆ Cetuximab resistance

 

In vitro

  

[59]

Viral EMT Pathways Implicated

Vimentin

--

HPV

IHC

N = 69 [55]

TWIST1/2; Snail; Slug

[55]

In vitro

TGF-β

--

HPV

IHC

N = 140 [60]

TGFβR1/R2

[60],[61]

In vitro

N = 200 [61]

  1. Note: Evidence supporting ZEB1, a key EMT transcription factor, is lacking in HNC.