Among them, AMPK has emerged as a main player both in the development and treatment of HCC: On one hand, mRNA levels of the isoform 2 of the catalytic subunit, AMPKα2, are dramatically decreased in human HCC, whilst stable loss of AMPKα2 increases tumorigenity of HCC derived cells injected in nude mice [19]. Here, PRKAA2 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.