Western blotting and real-time PCR assays showed that miR-532-3p overexpression suppressed the expression of KIFC1, gankyrin, p-AKT, TWIST1 and mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin and vimentin) and increased that of E-cadherin in HCC cells, effects that were reversed by KIFC1 (Figs. 7a, b). Here, AKT1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.