In particular, the Fn14 component of Fn14•TRAIL serves to block the binding of endogenous TWEAK to Fn14 on HCC cells, while the TRAIL component, once anchored to TWEAK-bearing cells or to soluble TWEAK via the Fn14 bridge, can direct intercellular and intra-cellular inhibitory signals to its cognate receptors on TRAIL-receptor bearing cells. Here, TNFSF12 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.