Many HCC cells express abundant CXCR4 receptors, but its principal ligand C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 12 (CXCL12) is absent, indicating plerixafor inhibits HBV independent of its classical receptor CXCR4 (Li et al., 2014; Kawaguchi et al., 2019). The gene discussed is CXCL12; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.