In the present study, sorafenib inhibited the up-regulation of p-Akt and p-ERK1/2 in HCC cells after insufficient RFA, and further down-regulated the increased expression of N-cadherin, vimentin and snail, which resulted in enhanced abilities of migration and invasion in HCC cells after insufficient RFA. The gene discussed is SNAI1; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.