Pharmacological inhibition of autophagy sensitized HCC cells to apoptosis induced by metformin and sorafenib.79 Studies have also shown that patients exhibiting high ATG7 expression and an active autophagy state have poor prognosis after sorafenib treatment.80 Due to different autophagy responses to sorafenib, different HCC cell lines have different sensitivities to sorafenib.81 Animal models are seen as key tools in cancer research. This evidence concerns the gene ATG7 and hepatocellular carcinoma.