SNAI2 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Interestingly, the downregulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of fibronectin and Slug in HCC cells were stronger in combined treatment with rIL-6 and rHGF than single treatment with rIL-6, suggesting a synergistic role of rHGF in rIL-6-induced EMT (Figure 3E, right panel).