Semi-quantitative RT-PCR results showed that KIF18A was significantly up-regulated in liver cancer tissues compared with ANLT in 16 of 20 (80%) HCC patients (Fig. 1A), while its expression in 8 cases of normal liver tissues from hepatic hemangioma' surrounding liver tissues was undetectable (Fig. 1B). Here, KIF18A is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.