It has been shown that p53 inhibits the Akt/mTOR pathway [37, 38]; we hypothesize that, when activated by Cx32, p53 not only transcriptionally activates KAI1/CD82, but also inhibits the Akt/mTOR pathway, thereby suppressing HCC cell proliferation and metastasis. Here, CD82 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.