To verify the results of RT-qPCR, we also detected the expression of EGFL8 protein in 40 cases of HCC and the corresponding ANLTs, which is included in 102 cases of HCC and ANLTs, by Western blot and the results evidenced the decreased expression of EGFL8 protein in HCC tissues (median, 0.260 versus 0.406, P < 0.001; Fig. 1b) and down-regulation of EGFL8 protein was positive in 70% (28/40) of HCC patients. The gene discussed is EGFL8; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.