Recent data suggest that IRX5 is a transcription factor that remarkably promotes tongue squamous cell carcinoma tumour growth by targeting the osteopontin (OPN) promoter and activating the NF‐κB pathway.8 Our previous study showed that CRNDE acted as a tumour oncogene by promoting the oncogenic properties of human HCC and revealed a novel CRNDE‐miR‐136‐5p‐IRX5 regulatory network in HCC.3 This evidence concerns the gene SPP1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.