This suggested that the differential uptake of 18F-TBD was not related to changes in the apoptotic rate between PTEN−/− males and PTEN+/− males, nor was it correlated with changes in the apoptotic rate between female PTEN−/− HCC progressors and female PTEN−/− HCC non-progressors. This evidence concerns the gene PTEN and hepatocellular carcinoma.