Baseline HMGCR activity in liver tumors was 2 to 8-fold higher than that in liver; 1% dietary cholesterol led to >90% reduction in liver HMGCR but had much less response in hepatoma; ectopic expression of HMGCR in normal bone marrow or fetal liver cells increased myeloid colony formation. Here, HMGCR is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.