The phosphorylation of IKKα at Thr-23, which was recognized as a marker for nuclear localization, was elevated and predominantly localized in the nucleus, and was inversely correlated with maspin expression in HBV-associated HCC tumors (Figure 1A and 1B, respectively), supporting the involvement of nuclear IKKα in maspin suppression. This evidence concerns the gene CHUK and hepatocellular carcinoma.