Furthermore, dephosphorylation of Branched Chain Keto Acid Dehydrogenase E1 Subunit Alpha (BCKDHA) and high expression of Protein Phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+ Dependent 1K (PPM1K) were found to promote tumorigenesis both in vivo and in vitro and were closely associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients. This evidence concerns the gene PPM1K and hepatocellular carcinoma.