In particular, demethylation with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine increases CD147 expression in HCCs by increasing Sp1 binding affinity; furthermore, the recurrence rate and death rate of HCC patients with an unmethylated CD147 promoter are higher than those of patients with a methylated CD147 promoter [73]. Here, SP1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.