Abstract: This invention demonstrates that the PEG10 protein suppresses apoptosis and promotes cancer cell growth. Furthermore, PEG10 protein was found to be degraded through interaction with SIAH1 protein. This invention provides methods of regulating cell growth and cell death using the PEG10 protein. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods of screening for novel anticancer agents which use the PEG10 protein. The screening of this invention enables development of pharmaceutical agents that induce apoptosis and suppress cell growth by specifically targeting cancer cells. In particular, since the PEG10 protein is specifically expressed in hepatoma cells, it is an ideal target molecule for diagnosis and treatment of hepatoma.