BNIP3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Given the molecular mechanism elucidated firstly in the study, we also assessed the value of inhibiting BNIP3, a critical protein in promoting competition advantage of lenvatinib-resistant HCC cells (CCHuh7R/CCPLC-PRF-5R) in cell competition scenario, in a xenografted tumor model and verified that BNIP3 inhibition significantly sensitized the anti-tumor efficacy of lenvatinib in HCC.