AKT1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: It is important to highlight that the protein levels of p-ERK1/2, p-PI3K and p-AKT were significantly lower in HCC cells treated with both si GHR and sorafenib than the other three groups (Figure 3A, 3B), suggesting that GHR knockdown induced the inhibition effects of sorafenib on the activation of PI3K/AKT/ERK1/2 signaling pathways.