As a sponge of miR-17, miR-19b, and miR-20a, PTENP1 can indirectly increase the expression of the miRNA targets including ULK1, ATG7, p62, PTEN, and PHLPP (an inhibitor of AKT); therefore, it can promote HCC progression by provoking pro-death autophagy [49]. Here, PTENP1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.