As a hallmark of pro-invasive effects, nicotine could induce changes in gene expression consistent with EMT, characterized by decreased expression of epithelial markers (E-cadherin, ZO-1) and concomitant increase in levels of mesenchymal proteins (vimentin, fibronectin) in both in vitro [50] and in vivo settings [78] of lung cancer. Here, VIM is linked to lung carcinoma.