As expected, SPINK1 overexpression markedly reversed the inhibitory effects of LARP4B knockdown on the stemness of HCC cells, including sphere formation (Fig. 7B and Supplementary Fig. S7B), the proportion of EpCAM-, CD133-, and CD44- positive cells (Fig. 7C and Supplementary Fig. S7C) and the expression of stemness-related proteins (Fig. 7D and Supplementary Fig. S7D). This evidence concerns the gene SPINK1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.