ASPH and neoplasm: The underlying mechanism of mtDNA aberrance in HCC remains uncharacterized, though the involvement of mtDNA instability in carcinogenesis has been well described.12, 13, 14 On the other hand, ASPH has been recognized as an important molecular marker associated with tumor invasion and disease outcome in some types of cancers, including HCC,23, 24, 25, 32, 33, 34 but the related mechanism and downstream signaling are largely unknown.