HGF and hepatocellular carcinoma: While Slug was increased by treatment with human recombinant HGF (rHGF) or recombinant IL-8 (rIL-8), E-cadherin levels did not obviously change in HCC cells treated with up to 100 ng/mL rHGF or up to 50 ng/mL rIL-8 (Figure 3D).