Moreover, the high level of ROS increased the expression of FOXC1 through extracellular regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2)- phospho-ETS Transcription Factor 1 (p-ELK1) pathway, which formed a ROS-FOXC1-cysteine metabolism-ROS positive feedback loop to promote HCC proliferation and metastasis. Here, ELK1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.