To further determine whether Akt inhibition was indispensable for the synergistic effect of 3-HAA and sorafenib on HCC, we evaluated the effect of Akt and ERK activator on cell viability in SMMC7721 and PLC8024 cells treated with sorafenib plus 3-HAA. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.