MCL1 and liver cancer: Given the critical role of HBx in the pathogenesis of HBV-related liver cancer [1,2] and Mcl-1 in liver homeostasis [25,26,41], the purpose of this study was to determine whether the apoptotic susceptibility of hepatocytes under oxidative stress conditions could be disturbed by HBx and the potential role of Mcl-1 in this process.