Abstract: Methods of predicting the likelihood of cancer, or recurrence thereof, or determining eligibility for anti-cancer therapy, specifically liver cancer, are provided. Further, methods of determining liver ectopic lymphoid-like structures (ELS) as well as methods of treating liver cancer by disrupting liver ELS, are provided.

Abstract: An isolated and cloned translation control element, and analogues thereof, having the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:7 and designated SP163, are disclosed. The translation control element controls cap-independent mRNA translation via an internal ribosome entry site (IRES). The present invention provides expression vectors comprising the translation control element SP163 or its analogues operatively linked to a gene sequence to be expressed. In alternative embodiments, the expression vector comprises at least two nucleic acid sequences to be translated and SP163 is operatively linked to at least one of the sequences to be translated. The sequences to be translated may be linked to only one promoter in an embodiment. The present invention further provides a method for facilitating and enhancing cap-independent translation of mRNA by including in an expression cassette a translation control element having the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:7 and designated SP163.