HSP27, a member of the small HSP family, plays a critical role in the invasion and metastasis of HCC by binding to the N-terminus of AKT and connecting MAPK activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) to AKT, thereby regulating the synthesis of integrins α- Expression of 7 (ITGA7) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) [49, 50]. Here, ITGA7 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.