BBC3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: In addition, given that during energetic stress p53 status in hepatic cells seems to be tightly regulated by AMPK activity24, together with the fact that we previously observed increases of the p53 transactivated proteins p21 and Puma after AMPK activation by glucose starvation in HCC cells15, we decided to evaluate p53 levels in control and AMPK silenced HCC cells treated with metformin.