PTEN and hepatocellular carcinoma: Studies have revealed that various phosphatases, including phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), protein phosphatase 2 (PP2A), Src homology region 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-1 (SHP-1), and Src homology region 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP-2), contribute to the transition of characteristics of the liver microenvironment and HCC development by regulating cellular activities of parenchymal cells, stromal cells, and immune cells that compose the liver microenvironment30–33.