EIF4EBP1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: The Western blot analysis of HCC cell lysates, with or without SMIP34 treatment, revealed a significant reduction in PELP1 downstream signaling, including the phosphorylation of mTOR, STAT3, Akt, ERK, S6, and 4E-BP1 in the SMIP34-treated group as compared with the control group (Fig. 4B).