We found that the expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin in HCC tumors was significantly lower compared to pericarcinoma tissues; in contrast, the expression of Vimentin and N-cadherin in HCC tumors was significantly higher than in pericarcinoma tissues, which indicates a classic EMT phenotype of HCC tumors10,15,16. This evidence concerns the gene VIM and hepatocellular carcinoma.