For example, overexpression of remodelling and spacing Factor 1 (RSF1) has been reported to promote the proliferation and survival of tumour cells (Cai et al., 2021); RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) was reported to regulate cell apoptosis, the cell cycle, cell proliferation, metastasis, invasion and tumorigenesis (Taghvaei et al., 2021); As a tumour promoter, STRN is upregulated in HCC (Du et al., 2020); and Rap1-interacting Factor 1 (RIF1) expression was found to be significantly correlated with clinical stage and prognosis. This evidence concerns the gene RIF1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.