HK2 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Mechanistically, HBx induced aerobic glycolysis by activating NF-κBp65/hexokinase 2 (HK2) signalling in spontaneous hepatocarcinogenesis, and overproduced lactate significantly promoted HCC cell pernicious proliferation via the PI3K (phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase)/Akt pathway in hepatocarcinogenesis.