Additional mechanisms contributing to HNF4A-related HCC progression include increased cell proliferation [67,164] and reduced apoptosis due to decreased expression of Apoptosis signal-regulated kinase 1 (ASK1/MAP3K5), an apoptosis-promoting tumor suppressor gene which was recently identified as an HNF4A target in hepatocytes [165]. This evidence concerns the gene MAP3K5 and hepatocellular carcinoma.