The present studies uncover a uncharacterized mechanism by which elevated endogenous AEG-1 contributes to anoikis resistance in HCC cells though the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and contributes to chemotaxis in HCC cells via the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis. The gene discussed is CXCL12; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.