Several previous studies have shown that SERPINB3 up-regulation caused by SDF-1/CXCR4/NF-kappaB pathway and HIF-2α-generated under hypoxic conditions separately facilitates the migration and invasion of gastric cancer (24) and hepatocellular carcinoma cells (25), exhibits superior spherogenic ability and invasion capacity of cholangiocarcinoma (26). The gene discussed is CXCR4; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.