CD44 and neoplasm: Accordingly, increased levels of key regulatory genes implicated in the promotion of EMT and stemness (Cd44, Mybl2 and Hmga2) were elevated in the spindloid tumours, while higher levels of cell junction markers (Cldn1, -7 and -8) and differentiation genes (Gdpd2 and Ogn)9,11,29 are elevated in non-spindloid tumours (Supplementary Fig. 1d).