The EPC incorporation assay showed that the number of Dil-ac-LDL labeled EPCs incorporation into HUVECs increased after treatment with conditional medium (CM) from the EphA1 high expression HCC cells (HLE cells treated with ephrinA1-Fc recombinant protein or Huh-7 cells transfected with EphA1 scrRNA) compared to treatment with CM from the EphA1 low expression HCC cells (HLE cells treated with IgG-Fc recombinant protein or Huh-7 cells transfected with EphA1 siRNA) (Fig. 1a2, a3). The gene discussed is EPHA1; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.