VIM and hepatocellular carcinoma: Notably, according to the results of the western blotting analysis, upregulation of EFNA4 assisted HCC cell lines Hep3B and Huh7 in acquiring a mesenchymal phenotype, as mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin and vimentin) were significantly upregulated, and the epithelial marker E-cadherin was significantly downregulated.