ZEB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Furthermore, as an oncogenic lncRNA, HULC promotes the growth of HCC cells by downregulating the expression of the tumor suppressor gene p18, and enhances epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to promote the hepatocarcinogenesis and metastasis of HCC by sponging miR-200a-3p and upregulating the expression of Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1.