SOX2 and cancer: In this regard, data from OSA patients and in vitro models suggested that IH enhances the expression of transcription factors (TFs) related to epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), such as TWIST, SNAIL, and SLUG, as well as promoting the de-differentiation of cancer cells to cancer stem cells (CSC) through the increased expression of embryonic stem cell transcriptional regulators, such as OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG.