We found that miR-338-3p mimics reduced HCC cell invasive abilities (Fig. 5A); and suppressed the phosphorylation of Erk (Fig. 5B), MMP2 and the expression of mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin and vimentin), whereas elevated the expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin (Fig. 5B). Here, MMP2 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.