Currently, the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis is thought to involve several tumor‐related signaling pathways in the HCC process, such as nuclear factor (NF)‐κ B, PI3K/protein kinase B (AKT), and c‐Jun amino‐terminal kinase (JNK) [63]. Here, AKT1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.