FOXM1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Although the molecular mechanisms whereby MELK induces aggressive tumor growth are not completely understood, it appears clear that MELK exerts its oncogenic role in association with the Forkhead Box Protein M1 (FOXM1) protooncogene [33], a master regulator of cell cycle progression that is remarkably activated in several human cancers, including HCC [21,34].