We found that only ERK1/2 phosphorylation level obviously increased in Huh7 cells after up-regulation of NMI; and in contrast, significantly decreased phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 in stable NMI silencing HCC-LM3 cells as well as their corresponding subcutaneous tumor tissues (Figure 6A, 6B). This evidence concerns the gene MAPK3 and hepatocellular carcinoma.