Furthermore, APE1/Ref-1 protein was significantly higher (p = 0.001) in JHH-6 (2.78 ± 0.21) and in Huh-7(1.62 ± 0.15) than in IHH (Fig 2B) indicating that increased mRNA synthesis is associated with increased APE1/Ref-1 protein production especially in poorly-differentiated hepatoma. Here, APEX1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.