PTEN and hepatocellular carcinoma: In the present study, we further explored the role of miR-19a in HBV-related HCC and in three different HCC cell lines, and our results suggest that miR-19a is oncogenic in HBV-related HCC, and its oncogenic role may be via regulating PTEN regulation, although the underlying mechanism of miR-19a involved in hepatocytes cell proliferation needs further investigation.