SNAI1 and neoplasm: Before investigating the effects of miR-362 on metastasis of tumor cells in vivo, the expression patterns of SMAD4, SNAI1 and E-cadherin in vivo were first examined in tumors developed in ectopic mice generated by subcutaneous injection of the sponge-induced miR-362-knockdown HCT-15 cells, or a negative control sponge.