AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: miR-29a has previously been shown to have an effect on the development HCC but the findings have been contradictory.24, 32, 33 Two studies supported miR-29 miRNAs directly regulate expression of TET protein in noncancer cells and HCC.21, 34 However, another report revealed that AFP expression transcriptionally regulated miR-29a and upregulated miR-29a suppresses the proliferation of HCC cells by targeting DNMT3A.24 This observation, which contradicts our study results, may stem from the difference cell lines HLE cells are negative for AFP.