As shown in Fig. 2A, upregulation of phospho‐AMPK and its downstream phospho‐ULK1 was present in palbociclib‐sensitive Hep3B and Huh7 cells, but not in resistant PLC5 cells, suggesting that activation of AMPK determines the sensitivity of HCC cells to palbociclib. This evidence concerns the gene PRKAA2 and hepatocellular carcinoma.