Typical epithelial morphology and expression of E‐cadherin, an epithelial marker, was observed in PC‐9 cells and HCC‐827 cells (Figure 6A,B), whereas mesenchymal morphology and high expression of Vimentin (a marker of mesenchymal phenotype) and Snail (a key regulator of EMT) were observed in HGF‐treated cells (Figure 6A,B). Here, VIM is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.