ZEB1 and cancer: Tissue-specific knockdown of critical EMT-inducing transcription factors (eg, ZEB1 in pancreatic cancer) eliminates the ability of cancer cells to metastasize.28 Furthermore, large-scale consortia of leading scientists have highlighted the importance of identifying tumors that express a mesenchymal phenotype.5,14,15,16,17 Consequently, biomarkers that detect an EMT phenotype in the primary tumor may help identify those at risk of recurrence attributable to harboring occult micrometastases.