CASP8 and cancer: Previous studies from other labs revealed that MALT1 has a central role in NF-κB signaling via proteolytic cleavage of A20 and the proteolytic cleavage of caspase-8 to c-FLIPL, which enhances NF-κB signaling.19,20 Many previous studies have shown that MALT1 acts as an oncogene that promotes the progression of cancers (for example, diffuse large B-cell lymphomas and lung cancer).21–24 Here we present evidence that MALT1 promotes the progression of HCC by the inhibition of TIFA-induced apoptosis.