WNK2 and cancer: The pathogenesis of HBV-related HCC is complex and involves multiple molecular players and intertwined signaling pathways, such as virus-host genome integration, sustained inflammation due to the host’s immune reaction, and cellular signal transduction pathways altered by the HBV-encoded oncogene X protein (HBx) (31, 32); HBx plays a significant role in liver cancer by modulating several cancer-related signaling pathways, such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), rat sarcoma virus, rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma, focal adhesion kinase, and kinase C signaling cascades (33).