To characterize the role of CXCR7 in HCC, we stably overexpressed CXCR7 in HepG2 and Hep3B cells, which have no metastatic potential and low endogenous CXCR7 expression levels, meanwhile, depleted CXCR7 in LM3 and 97H, which have high metastatic potential and high endogenous CXCR7 expression levels. This evidence concerns the gene ACKR3 and hepatocellular carcinoma.