They furtherly identified that HOXA1, a target gene of miR-142–3p, could promote HCC cell proliferation and viability. The “spongy” adsorption of miR-142–3p by CircWHSC1 increased the expression level of HOXA1 in HCC, exerting a pro-tumor effect, while CircWHSC1 silencing had an antitumor effect. Here, HOXA1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.