The PI3K/AKT and ERK1/2 signaling pathways have been shown to upregulate slug, thereby causing the downregulation of E-cadherin and the upregulation of N-cadherin.28, 29, 30 We thus examined the possible involvement of PI3K/AKT and ERK1/2 signaling pathways in PEDF-induced EMT in HCC cells. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.