LGALS9 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Although a high intracellular Gal-9 level was found in various hematological malignancies and solid tumors, downregulated Gal-9 expression was reported in the progressive stage of melanoma [71], in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [72], in breast cancer [73,74], and in cervix [75], gastric [76], and colon tumors [77].