Through the regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and the upregulation of E-cadherin expression, while downregulating N-cadherin and vimentin, RA also prevented the growth, invasion, and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in male BALB/c nude mice. This evidence concerns the gene MMP2 and hepatocellular carcinoma.