While HK2 knockdown in HK1−HK2+ liver cancer cells substantially reduced cell proliferation, the majority of the cells remained alive (Additional file 1: Figure S1D); after removing DOX from cultured Hep3B/shHK2DOX cells, the DOX-treated HK1−HK2+ cells were able to recover from HK2-inhibited cytostasis and resumed proliferation (Fig. 2i). The gene discussed is HK2; the disease is liver cancer.