To further evaluate whether AKR7A3 down-regulation is directly affected by the methylation of AKR7A3 promoter, three HCC cell lines with low (QGY7703 and PLC8024) and high (H2M) AKR7A3 expression were treated with gradient concentrations of demethylating agent 5-azacytidine (5-aza-dC). This evidence concerns the gene AKR7A3 and hepatocellular carcinoma.