To determine whether entolimod specifically protects normal hepatocytes, but not liver tumor cells (HCC), against TNF toxicity, we first tested the responsiveness of normal mouse hepatocytes and the BNL and Hepa 1–6 HCC tumor cell lines to entolimod in vitro by measuring NF-κB activation and then examined the effect of entolimod on cell sensitivity to TNF toxicity. The gene discussed is NFKB1; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.