We subsequently further investigated whether the function of IFITM3 in HCC cells was associated with the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling by western blotting using ly294002, a new molecular inhibitor [18], to block PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling at a concentration of 10 μmol/l for 48 h. This evidence concerns the gene MTOR and hepatocellular carcinoma.