Induction of Snail increases expression of CD44 and ALDH1. The induction of EMT via Snail suppresses E-cadherin expression that leads HNSCC cells to adopt CSC-like phenotype and chemoresistance to cisplatin. Focusing on the strategic targeting of EMT-regulating Snail presents a potential benefit in cancer therapy, as suppressing EMT could effectively impede cancer progression and spread, while also preventing the development of cancer stem cells. Here, SNAI1 is linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.