We show that rs2853669 (−245T > C) does not affect the luciferase promoter activity of the TERT reporter vector with the −146C > T mutation (Figure 2A) which is a rare mutation in our HCC patient cohorts (0 case out of 93 cases for the SMH cohort, and 1 case out of 72 cases for the KU cohort; Supplementary Tables 2 and 3). Here, TERT is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.