Since HMGA proteins including HMGA2 are highly expressed in glioblastomas and glioblastoma-derived brain tumor stem cells (BTSCs)38, where they play pivotal roles in regulating self-renewal, differentiation and symmetric/asymmetric division38,39, BTSCs are a good cell assay system to evaluate the effect of suramin on the expression of SNAIL and several differentiation and stemness markers, such as MSI1 (Musashi RNA Binding Protein 1), ID2 (inhibitor of DNA binding 2), and OLIG2 (oligodendrocyte transcription factor)38. The gene discussed is MSI1; the disease is brain neoplasm.