KDR and hepatocellular carcinoma: VEGF/VEGFR signaling is required in tumor cells to stimulate their proliferation and invasive growth in an autocrine and angiogenesis‐dependent manner.32 Recent studies have reported the possible molecular mechanisms involved in the direct anticancer action of apatinib in various cancer cell lines.33, 34, 35 These findings suggested that apatinib may also have the potential to directly suppress HCC cell growth.