Given that our lab and others have noted that in both mouse and human livers HKDC1 expression increases in stressed states such as NAFLD, alcoholic steatosis, and HCC and that studies have found increased activity of YAP in early liver cancer development44, it is plausible that HKDC1’s role in liver pathologies such as NAFLD and HCC tumorigenesis may, in part, be mediated via its relationship to YAP signaling. This evidence concerns the gene YAP1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.