VEGFA and hepatocellular carcinoma: Transfection with the miR-138-5p inhibitor significantly enhanced HIF-1α and VEGFA mRNA and protein expression in HCC cells, and the HIF-1α inhibitor reversed the effects of the miR-138-5p inhibitor on HIF-1α and VEGFA mRNA and protein expression (Figures 4(e) and 4(f)).