KDR and hepatocellular carcinoma: The DUSP6-ERK-HIF-1a-VEGF regulatory axis was demonstrated to function in PBLD-mediated decrease in VEGF expression and secretion in HCC cells, and PBLD-mediated downregulation of VEGFR2 in HUVECs was through the Texo-miR-940-EST1-VEGFR2 axis (Fig. 7d).