MMP9 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Conversely, inhibition of TLK1 with THD, which we showed leads to reduced NEK1 activity [23], can inhibit cell migration via suppression of EMT-related genes such as Claudin1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Twist1, Snail3, Slug, FOXC2, MMP3, and MMP9 in Hepato Cellular Carcinoma (HCC) cells [39].