Patients with a lower relative Slit3 gene expression showed a significantly larger tumor (median: 10 cm) when compared with those with a higher Slit3 gene expression (median: 5.25 cm, p = 0.004; Fig. 1c), indicating a significant inverse correlation between Slit3 expression and size of the HCC tumor (R = − 0.457, p = 0.022; Fig. 1d). The gene discussed is SLIT3; the disease is neoplasm.