Consistent with the proposed regulation of angiogenesis and EMT by β-catenin, the expression patterns of CD34, IGFBP3 and vimentin in xenografts, as assessed by IHC staining, were similar to those seen in vitro (Fig. 4e, f; Supplementary Fig. 12c, d), supporting the protumour role of Galectin-3 in HCC tumorigenesis via β-catenin signalling. Here, CD34 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.