Our data are in agreement with the proposed interaction between miR-16 and HuR mRNA in HCC cells and suggest two different mechanisms for miR-16 to inhibit COX-2: by binding directly to the MRE response element in the COX-2 3′-UTR and by decreasing the levels of HuR through a direct interaction. Here, PTGS2 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.