The expression level of EGFL8 in HCC tissues was significantly decreased compared with the corresponding ANLT specimens (median, 5.651 versus 9.475; P < 0.0001) and the expression of EGFL8 was down-regulated in 73.81% (76/102) of HCC patients (Fig. 1a). The gene discussed is EGFL8; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.