To assess the role of 4E-BPs on the apoptotic effect of metformin in HCC, we silenced 4E-BP1 and 4E-BP2 (4E-BP1/2) in Huh7 cells and examined the expression levels of Mcl-1 upon metformin treatment (Figure 4A). The gene discussed is MCL1; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.