Regarding the VEGFA protein levels in HCC cells transfected with pcDNA3.1, there were no differences between the LY294002-treated group and DMSO-treated group (0.63 ± 0.29 vs 0.75 ± 0.36, P > 0.05, n = 3); there were also no differences in the KLF8 protein levels (0.67 ± 0.19 vs 0.76 ± 0.19, P > 0.05, n = 3) (Fig. 5b). This evidence concerns the gene KLF8 and hepatocellular carcinoma.