In contrast to the genetic evidence outlined above, several studies performed with PTX3 overexpressing cells suggest that the protein may play a pro-tumorigenic role by promoting tumor cell migration and invasion (head and neck tumors, cervical cancer) or proliferation (glioma), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (hepatocellular carcinoma) and macrophage chemotaxis (64, 65, 113, 114). The gene discussed is PTX3; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.