Our results showed that PLC5, HepG2 and Hep3B with epithelial morphology and low CD44/CD90 expression were validated as well-differentiated HCC cells (Figure 3B), whereas SNU387, SNU449 and SK-Hep1 with spindle shape phenotype and high CD44/CD90 expression were confirmed as poorly-differentiated HCC cells (Figure 3C). Here, CD44 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.