MMP2 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that expression of AFP and CXCR4 elevated significantly in the metastatic HCC patients’ tissue samples than that in the liver trauma (normal liver tissues) and non‐metastatic HCC patients (Fig. 2A); Western Blotting assay also showed that expressions of metastasis‐related proteins, including EpCAM, K19, MMP2/9, were increased in metastatic HCC patients’ tissues samples than that in liver trauma liver tissues samples (normal liver tissues) and non‐metastasis HCC patients tissues samples (Fig. 2B).