The metastatic potential of the six HCC cell lines was further examined by measuring CD44 and Twist1, the two mesenchymal markers.14–16 However, there was no apparent correlation between the reciprocal apoptotic profiles of SAG/Noxa and SAG/SARM and the metastatic potential in these HCC cell lines (Supplementary Figure 2). Here, CD44 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.