In past studies, researchers found that elevated phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) expression, valosin-containing protein (VCP) interaction with high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1), and suppressor of cytokine signaling 5 (SOCS5) inhibition can promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway [46]. Here, HMGB1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.