VIM and neoplasm: The number and size of the metastatic tumours also predominated in the HepG2-HBx group (Fig. 2f).The immunocytochemical result indicated that the epithelial marker of E-cadherin was down-regulated, whereas the mesenchymal marker of vimentin was up-regulated in the HBx overexpressed HepG2 cells (Fig. 2g).