MST1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Genetic studies and clinical analyses have demonstrated that MST1/2 are crucial for maintaining liver homeostasis and suppressing the progression and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) via YAP inactivation.164,197,198 Liu et al. found through analyses of liver cancer tissues from chemically treated mice, genetically engineered mouse models, and human patients that glycogen accumulation is prevalent in small, pre-malignant nodules but absent in larger tumors, suggesting its role in tumor initiation.