Interestingly, while FABP5 expression was unaffected when MELK was overexpressed in hepatoma SK-HEP1 and HCC-LM3 cells (Fig. 5c, Additional file 1: Fig. S8a), MELK knockdown significantly decreased FABP5 protein levels (Fig. 5d). This evidence concerns the gene FABP5 and hepatocellular carcinoma.