NFKB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Activated STING is palmitoylated and phosphorylated to recruit TBK1 and IKK, among which TBK1 triggers the release of IFN (a pivotal pathway in cancers, particularly HCC) by activating IRF3, while IKK induces inflammation by activating NF-κB (69, 70).