Because many studies have demonstrated that CSCs are responsible for the poor prognosis of patients by promoting tumour recurrence and metastasis10, it is rational to study the role of CD133+ CSCs in inducing HCC recurrence and some CSCs-related transcriptional factors (e.g., Nanog), since they regulate the self-renewal and differentiation of CSCs11. The gene discussed is NANOG; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.