CASP3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Inhibits aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect) in HCC cells by downregulating the expression of hexokinase 2 (HK2); suppresses the c-Myc signaling pathway, leading to decreased expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and increased expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (e.g., cleaved caspase 3 and 9).