Many studies have proved that lncRNAs can affect tumour progression by regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress: in oesophageal and liver cancer, lncRNA MEG3 triggers apoptosis of tumour cells through the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway[8, 9]; lncRNA CASC2 increases the stability of PERK mRNA, which triggers PERK/eIF2α/CHOP ER stress pathway and promotes radiosensitivity or apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)[10]. The gene discussed is EIF2AK3; the disease is liver cancer.