In conclusion (Fig. 7), our study reveals that activated HSCs promote the tumor progression of residual HCC after sublethal heat treatment by releasing POSTN that could be inhibited by calcipotriol, and proposes calcipotriol plus cisplatin as a new therapeutic potential to inhibit the incomplete RFA-accelerated progression of residual HCC. The gene discussed is POSTN; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.