They found that miR-181 is highly expressed in EpCAM+ AFP+ HCC cells as well as in embryonic livers and isolated hepatic stem cells, and it is functionally critical in the maintenance of EpCAM+ AFP+ HCC cells by promoting HCC stemness through targeting CDX2, GATA6, and the Wnt signaling inhibitor NLK [99]. This evidence concerns the gene AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma.