DEFB1 and liver cancer: As shown in Fig. 4, the mRNA expression levels of DEFB1 and CDH1 were positively correlated in GSE25097 (Fig. 4A; r = 0.354, P < 0.001), GSE14520 (Fig. 4B; r = 0.348, P < 0.001) and GSE36376 (Fig. 4C; r = 0.381, P < 0.001) liver cancer patient cohorts.