Considering that the present results revealed attenuated miR-338-5p expression and enhanced ABCB1 and EGFR expression in human clinical HCC specimens, the novel identified miR-338-5p/EGFR/ABCB1 axis may provide new insight into the mechanisms underlying MDR and the pathogenesis of HCC, and the restoration of miR-338-5p expression may be a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HCC in the future. The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.