As expected, overexpression of miR-125a significantly increased cellular levels of miR-125a (Supplementary Fig. 2a and b) and reduced HK2 protein levels in HCC cells (Figs 3c–f and 2c), whereas knockdown of miR-125a dramatically reduced cellular levels of miR-125a (Supplementary Fig. 2a and b) and increased the level of HK2 protein in HCC cells (Fig. 3c–f). This evidence concerns the gene HK2 and hepatocellular carcinoma.