The acquisition of cellular plasticity following EMT is reflected in the elevated expression of stem cell-associated markers Lgr5, Sox9 and Hmga2. In contrast, Runx3+/+p53−/− cells are resistant to EMT, demonstrating a safeguarding role for Runx3, which is an established gastric tumor suppressor [19], [20]. Here, RUNX3 is linked to gastric neoplasm.