CD44 and breast cancer: Subsequently, NC showed the inhibitory effect on the expression of transcription factors (Snail, Slug and Zeb1), and then reversed EMT with decreased mesenchymal markers (i.e., N-cadherin and Vimentin) and increased epithelial markers (E-cadherin), meanwhile it inhibited the expression of pluripotency maintaining factors including Nanog, Nestin and Oct-4, and then suppressed CD44 expression and CSC phenotypes, all of which were crucial for distant metastasis of breast cancer.