fig3

Figure 3. Development of cancer stemness through downstream effects of SNAI1 on miRNAs. During the transition from a differentiated cancer cell into a cancer stem cell, there is a transitional period termed the “stemness window” in which several molecular events occur that drive a stem cell-like phenotype. Snail, an EMT master regulator, acts to inhibit the transcription of several regulatory microRNAs. These include the let-7 family, regulators of differentiation, the miR-200 family, regulators of EMT, and the miR-34 family, regulators of apoptosis. Through the inhibition of these microRNAs and the dysregulation of their targets, several genotypic and phenotypic changes are induced (examples noted below the miRNAs), thus driving the development of stemness traits. These include the ability to self-renew, differentiate, and initiate tumor formation. Created with BioRender.com.