Placenta‐specific 8 (PLAC8, onzin) was originally identified as being highly expressed in the mouse placenta.4 Subsequent studies have shown that PLAC8 is involved in regulating metabolism and immunity and participates in cancer pathophysiological processes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and autophagy.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 The results of several studies have revealed that PLAC8 affects cell growth by modulating the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinases (PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT) signalling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. This evidence concerns the gene PLAC8 and hepatocellular carcinoma.