Through epigenetic modulation of tumor-suppressive miR-200b, miR-200c, miR-122 and miR-145 transcriptions (Figs 5h, 6c and 7a–c), DDX3 exerts its tumor-suppressive function to prevent the expansion of CSCs in HCC (Fig. 8 and Table 3). The gene discussed is DDX3X; the disease is neoplasm.