While inhibition of PI3K by LY294002 or knockdown of EMP3 suppressed the migratory and invasive abilities (Figure 5A), and reduced the phosphorylation of Akt and the expression of MMP-9 and uPA (Figure 5B) in both SK-Hep-1 and Huh-7 HCC cells, treatment of LY294002 further enhanced the EMP3 knockdown-induced inhibition of the aforementioned phenomena (right black bars, Figure 5A and right lanes, Figure 5B). This evidence concerns the gene MMP9 and hepatocellular carcinoma.