ERK/mitogen activated protein kinase signaling is involved in HGF-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition. PC-3 cells were treated with HGF (60 ng/ml) for 36 h, and ERK, p-ERK and Zeb-1 expression levels were examined by western blotting. HGF, hepatocyte growth factor; ERK, extracellular signal-related kinase; Zeb-1, zinc finger E-box binding homeobox-1; p, phosphorylated.