Exogenous knockdown of MTR4 can affect the correct alternative splicing of Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1)/pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) pre-mRNA, thereby reducing the production of functional mRNA, and in turn produce new alternative splicing products GLUT1b and PKM1, both of which severely reduce the glycolysis of HCC. The gene discussed is MTREX; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.