DNMT3 has also been shown to promote HCC metastasis and invasion by epigenetic regulation of the metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) gene, and in HBV-associated HCC, HBV X mobilizes DNMT3a and DNMT3b to increase promoter methylation and enhance MTA1 expression [36]. This evidence concerns the gene DNMT3A and hepatocellular carcinoma.