HCC patients who displayed higher levels of OCT4 also had significantly higher levels of DNMT3b (Fig. 1f, P < 0.0001), and these patients with higher expression levels of OCT4 (P = 0.005) and DNMT3b (P = 0.0217) had significantly higher rates of tumor recurrence (over 120 months), and of early recurrence (within 24 months) (Fig. 1g). Here, POU5F1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.