Consistently, EMT was significantly attenuated in HCC cells co-cultured with NE-treated LX-2shRNA sFRP1 versus NE-treated LX-2shRNA NC CM, evidenced by the higher E-cadherin expression and lower N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Snail expression (Fig. 2f; Additional file 7: Fig. S5). The gene discussed is VIM; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.