By comparing the expression of PI3K–AKT–mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins in different risk groups, the expression of AKT and mTOR proteins is up-regulated but the expression of phosphorylated AKT (AKT–pS473) and mTOR (mTOR–pS2448) is down-regulated, which indicates that PI3K–AKT–mTOR signaling is inhibited in high-risk groups and proves that mTOR–pS2448 affects the prognosis of HCC patients in the high-risk group. Here, MTOR is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.