Using a HCC cell line with high malignant invasion potential, MHCC-97H, Lin et al. found that emodin can inhibit the migration and invasion of HCC cells by inhibiting the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-2 and -9 and regulating the MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways 85. This evidence concerns the gene AKT1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.