MAPK1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: These factors can activate signaling pathways like Ras–Raf–MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase)–extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK), MEKK1/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Wnt/b-catenin, Janus kinase–signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3), insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor, hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) that can result in the initiation, invasion, and metastasis of HCC (3, 4, 5).