MATα2 expression confers a cell growth advantage and is considered increasingly important for differentiation and apoptosis (Lu & Mato, 2012 ▶), for instance in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (Yang et al., 2008 ▶), colon cancer (Chen et al., 2007 ▶) and leukaemic cells (Attia et al., 2008 ▶). This evidence concerns the gene MAT2A and hepatocellular carcinoma.