Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the mainstay of therapy modalities for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) patients in real-world clinical practice, while upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor after TACE is closely associated with poor prognosis (1, 2). The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.