To investigate whether ECM proteins such as Ln-1, Ln-5, Coll I, Coll IV, Fg, Fn and Vn can interfere with gefitinib's ability to inhibit cell growth of HCC cell lines, we added exogenous matrices (1 μg ml−1) to the cells in the presence of gefitinib IC50. This evidence concerns the gene FN1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.