Furthermore, patients with a lower relative Slit3 gene expression showed a significantly larger tumor (median: 9.25 cm) when compared with those with a higher Slit3 gene expression (median: 5.25 cm, p = 0.005; Fig. 1a); consequently suggesting a significant inverse correlation between Slit3 expression and tumor size (R = − 0.352, p = 0.023; Fig. 1b), indicating that Slit3 closely and inversely associated with HCC tumor growth. This evidence concerns the gene SLIT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma.