VTCN1 and neoplasm: As shown in Fig. 1g–i, B7-H4 expression in tumor samples from ICC patients with early recurrence was much higher than those in ICC patients without early recurrence (mRNA, 2.08 ± 0.13 vs. 1.22 ± 0.08 and protein, 3.11 ± 0.26 vs. 0.51 ± 0.16, p < 0.01, respectively).