MTOR and hepatocellular carcinoma: Loss of TIP30 can activate EGFR/AKT signaling of human lung adenocarcinoma and mammary cancer.25, 26 We have previously confirmed that TIP30 deficiency can activate AKT signaling in HCC and laryngeal carcinoma.16, 20 Previous studies have indicated activation of AKT/mTOR signaling had critical effects on lipid metabolism regulation.27, 28 Here, we find downregulation of TIP30 expression activates AKT and causes elevated mTOR phosphorylation in HCC-LM3 cells, whereas up-regulating TIP30 expression reduced AKT and mTOR phosphorylation levels (Figure 3a).