It has been revealed that transfection of the LAPTM4B gene promoted anchorage-independent growth and colony formation of HLE cells, whereas anti-sense oligonucleotides against LAPTM4B inhibited proliferation of BEL-7402, a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line in which LAPTM4B expression was found. The gene discussed is LAPTM4B; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.