To further confirm the effect of circTGFBR2 on HCC cells, we performed western blotting and autophagic flux assays to assess the autophagic status in cells, while flow cytometry assays using annexin V PI/FITC and clonogenic assays were used to evaluate the apoptotic rate and proliferative ability of HCC cells under starvation stress. The gene discussed is ANXA5; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.