NUAK1 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: In addition, we also noticed that the morphology of stable NUAK1-knockdown cells has been changed from the spindle-like and fibroblastic phenotype (mesenchymal feature) into the tight cell-to-cell adhesion (epithelial-like phenotype) (Fig. 4A), suggesting NUAK1 promoted EMT in ESCC cells.