More intriguingly, cell-permeable-αKG or antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) could partially rescue the effect inflicted by combined treatment of Sorafenib and PHGDH inhibitor (NCT-503), suggesting that PHGDH inhibitor sensitized HCC cells to Sorafenib through depleting αKG and increasing ROS production (Fig. 4g). This evidence concerns the gene PHGDH and hepatocellular carcinoma.