HK2 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Recent studies have reported that miR-188-5p acts as a tumor suppressor that is downregulated in gastric cancer, prostate cancer, and HCC, and inhibits the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of tumor cells.37, 38, 39 miR-188-5p has been shown to regulate the activation of rate-limiting enzymes (hexokinase2 [HK2]) in the glycolysis process to enhance the proliferation, migration, and glycolysis of HCC cells.40