Previous studies have confirmed that the abnormal expression of SOX5 can promote the epithelial-stromal transformation (EMT), proliferation and invasion of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, stomach cancer and prostate cancer, by targeting different downstream genes (such as Twist1, Snail and ZEBI) (55, 57). The gene discussed is TWIST1; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.