In vivo studies with hepatocyte specific SND1 over-expressing mice (Alb/SND1) showed that transgenic animals have a higher incidence of spontaneous tumors, an increase in CD133+, CD44+ and EpCAM+ tumor initiating cells (TICs) and an increase in HCC drivers (c-Myc, TNFα and IL-6)[43]. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.