Dong et al.82 showed that TMPRSS4 increases the expression of the heparin-binding-EGF precursor and promotes its proteolytic cleavage by enhancing MMP-9 expression through EGFR/AKT/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling, leading to angiogenesis, proliferation, and invasion in HCC. This evidence concerns the gene TMPRSS4 and hepatocellular carcinoma.