TIMM8A and hepatocellular carcinoma: Hence, the relationship between Cu content and MTs expression does not appear as univocal as that with Zn, and leads toward the hypothesis of the involvement of other possible regulatory mechanisms, namely other MTs isoforms or other proteins able to bind divalent metals, hypotheses to be explored by ad hoc in vitro studies Reports form the literature are not consistent in this regard, with studies describing an increased Cu content (6, 30, 32, 33) and others reporting a decreased Cu content in HCC (34).