In HCC cells, inhibiting of HDAC2 disrupts the G1/S phase of the cell cycle and leads to apoptosis through upregulating the total p21, p27, and acetylated p53 levels and reducing CDK6 and BCL2 levels (Lee et al., 2014, Noh et al., 2011); these results suggest that HDAC2 could be a therapeutic target for HCC. The gene discussed is TP53; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.