Along with the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 regulated by APN, we found that effector proteins regulated directly or indirectly by ERK1/2 are elevated in HCC cells, including HMGA227, PLD228, MMP929, GLI129–31, GLI230,31, SLUG27,28,32, and MDR133. The gene discussed is MAPK3; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.