He et al. also revealed that lenvatinib inhibited cell migration and invasion in HCC SMMC7721 and Hep3B cells by suppressing the expression of MMP-1, 2, 7, 9, 10 and 16 and increasing the expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1, 3 and 4 23. This evidence concerns the gene TIMP1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.