It has also been found that simultaneous activation of the ERK and AKT(Serine/threonine kinase) pathways enhances the cell cycle progression of HBV replicating hepatocytes [50] and that the ERK pathway participates in HBX(Hepatitis B virus X protein)-mediated HCC cell proliferation and migration [52]. Here, MAPK1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.