As mentioned above, we pulsed three NSCLC cell lines (HCC827, NCI-H1975 and NCI-H3255, see ESI A†) with 4 μg mL−1 of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta (1 : 1 v/v)27,28 every 2 days to establish mesenchymal cell line models before triggering their MET. Here, TNF is linked to non-small cell lung carcinoma.