Cell function analysis showed that knockdown of miR-196a or miR-196b suppressed HCC progression by inhibiting cell proliferation, glucose consumption and lactate production (Fig. 2c–f), arresting cell at G0/G1 stage (Fig. S3A and S3B) and promoting apoptosis or necrosis through regulating Bcl-2 and Bax (Fig. 3a–d). Here, BAX is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.