PHGDH and hepatocellular carcinoma: Elevations in hepatomas were markedly higher still (8.8–11.9-fold in slow-growing hepatomas and up to 50.8–75.5-fold in fast-growing hepatomas), suggesting an apparent correlation of PHGDH activity with the tumorigenic rate of growth and an important association with both neoplastic transformation (slow-growth tumor) and progression (fast-growth tumor) [18].