In the light of our accruing evidence implicating PDK1 in the enhanced IR-resistance and associated CSCs-linked oncogenicity of HCC cells, we evaluated the translatability and probable clinical feasibility of our findings by investigating the likely efficacy of pharmacologically targeting PDK1 on the IR-resistant phenotype of HCC cells, using BX795, a potent small molecule ATP-competitive inhibitor of PDK1. This evidence concerns the gene PDK1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.