Thus, hepatocytes may represent an exception to the mutual exclusive E- and N-cadherin pattern observed in embryonic development and tissue formation; however, this also raises the question of whether the increase in N-cadherin over E-cadherin and its assumed prognostic potential of invasive and metastatic biological behavior as implied by the EMT concept, truly also apply to HCC. The gene discussed is CDH2; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.