In lung adenocarcinoma cells, NEK4 acts as a promoter of EMT by regulating the activity of suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic 3 (SMAD3) and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) during transcriptional growth factor beta (TGF-β)-induced EMT [127]. This evidence concerns the gene ZEB1 and lung adenocarcinoma.