Because HO-1197 mainly altered the mRNA expression of mitosis-related genes in HCC cells, we investigated the protein expression of major mitotic kinases: cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1/CDC2), budding uninhibited by benzimidazole 1 (BUB1), polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), aurora kinase A (Aurora A), and monopolar spindle kinase 1 (MPS1/TTK) which are transcriptional targets of FoxM1. This evidence concerns the gene PLK1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.