SNAI1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Based on down-regulation of E-cadherin in the process of EMT, a previous study demonstrated that Twist and Snail, but not Slug, are major EMT regulators in HCC as shown by the correlation of over-expression of Snail and/or Twist, down-regulation of E-cadherin, and nonmembranous localization of β-catenin [38].