HOXD3 induced CCR6 expression in HCC cells, whereas inhibition of HOXD3 decreased the expression of CCR6 at the mRNA and protein levels (Fig. 5B, C), which was in line with the data retrieved from the TCGA database (P < 0.001, r = 0.229) (Fig. 5A). Here, HOXD3 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.