ZEB1 and cancer: Transcription factors that belong to the zinc finger E box–binding homeobox (ZEB) families are potent inducers of EMT7 and comprise 2 genes, ZEB1 (OMIM 189909) and ZEB2 (OMIM 605802).18 Aberrant expression of these genes is associated with poor outcomes in a number of malignant tumors.9,11,19 To date, their potential contribution as a biomarker to improve the ability of TNM staging in identifying patients at high recurrence risk after curative surgery for CRC has not been investigated.