In in vitro studies in human HCC cell lines (HepG2, Hep3B, HuH-7, HuH-6, PLC/PRF5), it has been demonstrated that AVE1642 inhibits cell proliferation by preventing the activation of signalling in response to exogenous IGF1 and IGF2, but not insulin, supporting the IGF1R specifity of this antibody[88]. This evidence concerns the gene IGF1R and hepatocellular carcinoma.