We further provide functional evidence that Egr1 is a critical regulator of HGF-induced invasion by HCC cells: silencing Egr1 in SK-HEP-1 and Hep3B HCC cell lines decreased HGF-induced invasion and MMP secretion, and Egr1 overexpression in SNU-449 cells increased invasion and MMP levels. The gene discussed is HGF; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.