Table 1 Principal data regarding the relationship of EMT with PCSCs

Short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated ZEB1-knockdown in the two cells with the highest levels of ZEB1(Panc–1 and MiaPaCa–2)

Reduction of CD24+/CD44+ subpopulation, reduced sphere formation in the two cancer cell lines and sphere numbers in subsequent generations decreased expression of stem cell factors such as Sox2, Bmi1 and p63

[96]

CD133 overexpression in Mia PaCa-2 cell

Increased mRNA expression of several EMT-associated genes: SNAI1, ZEB1, Vimentin, CDH2 and MMP9. CD133hi-MIA cells show a more fibroblast-like morphology

[97]

Silenced Snail in Panc-1 cells

A significant decrease in the ALDH^high population, reduction initial formation of spheres and sphere numbers in subsequent generations.

[98]

Nestin shRNA in PANC-1 cell and nestin-overexpressing in MiaPaCa-2 cell

Expression of mesenchymal markers, acquisition of invasive properties and high motility/opposite effects

[99]

Isolate the SP cell fraction (side population, a cancer stem cell enriched fraction from Panc-1,KP-1NL and Capan-2 cell lines), incubate SP cells in the presence of TGF-β

Production of cells with mesenchymal-like morphology,alteration such as reduction of E- cadherin mRNA and induction of Snail mRNA and (MMP)-2 mRNA

[52]