In such cases, AFP promotes the malignant behavior of HCC cells by inhibiting the activity of PTEN and activating the PI3K/Akt pathway, thereby inducing the expression of proteins essential for cell metastasis, such as keratin 19, matrix metalloproteinase 2/9, and CXCR4 [26,36]. The gene discussed is AFP; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.