Likewise, the FOXQ1/NDRG1 axis was shown to exacerbate HCC initiation via enhancing cross talk between fibroblasts and tumor cells (Luo et al, 2018), and FOXO1 was reported to contribute to HCC through a different mode of action (Dong et al, 2017; Jia et al, 2018). This evidence concerns the gene NDRG1 and neoplasm.