MAPK8 and hepatocellular carcinoma: To further elucidate the roles of apatinib in the EGFR/JNK/ERK signaling pathway in sorafenib-resistant HCC, HepG2/Sorafenib cells were exposed to varying apatinib doses, followed by the addition of JNK- and ERK-specific inhibitors, SP600125 and PD98059, for mechanistic exploration.