PI3K/Akt pathway is associated with cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, and inflammation.24 mTOR, an important downstream regulator in the PI3K/Akt pathway, plays an essential role in protein synthesis and autophagy.25 Growing evidences have identified that many factors inhibit HCC via inactivation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.26, 27, 28 In our in vitro and in vivo results, the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was inhibited, especially in the combination treatment group. This evidence concerns the gene AKT1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.