High DDR1 expression is associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients. The expression level of DDR1 is positively correlated with that of SLC1A5. DDR1 enhances the proliferation of HCC cells by the SLC1A5-mediated mTORC1 signaling pathway and induces a G1-S phase transition. Here, SLC1A5 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.