We then analyzed NR4A3 mRNA expression in 56 pairs of human primary HCC tissues and matched adjacent noncancerous liver tissues using quantitative (q) RT-PCR and found that NR4A3 mRNA expression was frequently downregulated in HCC tissues compared with matched adjacent noncancerous liver tissues (Fig. 1B). This evidence concerns the gene NR4A3 and hepatocellular carcinoma.