In addition, the mRNA expression of several mesenchymal gene markers, including SNAIL2, FOXC2 and ZEB2, was observed to be increased, while that of an epithelial gene marker OCLN was decreased in Hep3B-TFF3 as compared to Hep3B-Vec cells, consistent with TFF3-stimualted invasion and migration of HCC cells. This evidence concerns the gene SNAI2 and hepatocellular carcinoma.