CDK2 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Our final conclusion is summarized in Fig. 8: Ccne1 in HSCs is an important modulator of fibrosis-driven HCC through at least 3 mechanisms by (i) enabling proliferation and survival of HSCs, (ii) controlling Cdk2-dependent expression of oncogenic signaling molecules, and (iii) driving Cdk2-independent Il6 expression.