ZEB1 and nonpapillary renal cell carcinoma: Additionally, our study identified an underlying molecular mechanism in which PIM1 regulates ccRCC development and progression by mediating crosstalk between signalling pathways, including independent Smad proteins and c-Myc, which target downstream transcription factors (ZEB1, ZEB2, Snail1, Snail2 and Twist) to trigger EMT.