As PDK1 affects cell activities through the AKT/caspase 3 signaling pathway (Shim et al., 2012), we sought to determine whether increased lncRNA‐PDPK2P and its binding to PDK1 increases proliferation, invasion, and migration and reduces the apoptosis of HCC cells via that pathway. The gene discussed is PDPK2P; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.