To determine whether CXCR7 is also expressed in HCC cell lines, we first evaluated the expression of CXCR7 by RT-PCR in a panel of HCC cell lines (HepG2, Hep3B, SMMC-7721, MHCC97L, MHCC97H and HCCLM6). Here, ACKR3 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.