In spite of effective ASCT2 or LAT1 knockout (Figure 1 and Figure 2), and linked reductions in glutamine and leucine transport rates (Figure 3 and Figure 4), both epithelial and mesenchymal human HCC cells continued to grow at rates equal to, or only moderately less than cognate controls (Figures 5). This evidence concerns the gene SLC7A5 and hepatocellular carcinoma.