The efficacy of sorafenib against advanced HCC is attributed to its direct inhibitory effects on the growth of HCC cells via the Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway and its indirect suppressive effects on HCC angiogenesis via inhibition of receptor tyrosine kinases, including VEGFR and PDGFR (5, 23). This evidence concerns the gene MAP2K7 and hepatocellular carcinoma.