HDAC8 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Enhancement of cellular transformation activity by AHR, CA1, and HDAC8 in HCC cells was observed in an independent soft agar assay (AIG), wherein overexpressed AHR, CA1 mutant, and HDAC8 significantly increased colony formation by 54%, 78%, and 42%, respectively, after induction by doxycycline (Figure 5B).