ZEB1 and nasopharyngeal carcinoma: The protein and mRNA levels of N-cadherin, β-catenin, Twist, Snail, Slug, Zeb1, and MMP2 were significantly downregulated in the miR-296-5p-overexpressing NPC cells but upregulated in the miR-296-5p-silenced cells (Fig. 3b, c).