FOXC2 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Here, in the effects screen of CD44 knockdown acting on these transcription factors, we found that both mRNA and protein expression of Snail was strongly, consistently decreased in SMMC-7721 and MHCC97-H cells after CD44 inhibition, rather than Twist1, ZEB2 and FOXC2, indicating that CD44 knockdown may induce the MET of HCC cells through inhibiting Snail.