These EMT-related transcriptional factors had a low overall expression and showed no significant difference of gene expression in HNSCC related to normal mucosa Consequently, we think that Slug is the major EMT-related transcriptional factor in HNSCC, and we decided to use Slug as a clinical indicator for EMT in HNSCC in this study. This evidence concerns the gene SNAI2 and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.