The fact that SOX2 KD in the Panc89 cell variants analyzed did not elevate the response towards chemotherapeutic drugs might be explained by the concomitant upregulation of NES for which a role in the mediation of chemoresistance in cancer cells, e.g. hepatocellular carcinoma cells [85] or small cell lung cancer cells [86], has been already described. Here, NES is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.