Functional assays indicated that restoration of miR-451 could inhibit growth, induce G0/G1 arrest and increase apoptosis in HCC cells, which might correlate with a decrease in the cell anti-apoptotic ability (Bcl-2/Bax ratio) and a well know cellular G1/S transitional regulator (cyclinD1) (Supplementary Figure 1a-1d). The gene discussed is BAX; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.