Moreover, we reported that the effect of gefitinib on its downstream effectors, p-Akt and p-Erk1/2, is time-dependently reversed by Ln-5, which is expressed de novo in HCC but not in peritumoral or normal tissues (Giannelli et al, 2003), whereas no effects are observed with other ECM molecules such as Ln-1, Coll I, Coll IV, Fn, Fg and Vn. This evidence concerns the gene FN1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.