Further results on the downstream regulation of the activity of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and the phospho-activation of NKCC1 mediated by the upstream kinases with-no-K (Lysine) kinase 1 (WNK1) and oxidative stress-responsive kinase 1 (OSR1) shed light on the molecular mechanism involving NKCC1 in HCC metastasis. The gene discussed is SLC12A2; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.