MMP9 and hepatocellular carcinoma: At the same time, the specific molecular mechanism of SALL4 affecting the migration, invasion and proliferation of HCC cells was validated by inhibiting the protein expression of PTEN, the SF1670: specific inhibitor for PTEN was used and added into SALL4 inhibitor group and SALL4 mimic group, the protein expression of PTEN in HCC cells significantly declined, while the protein expressions of p-PI3K, p-AKT, MMP2, MMP-9, CyclinD, CyclinA1, PCNA and P62 significantly raised in SMMC-7721 cells.