AKT1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: <h4>Background</h4>Sorafenib resistance remains a major barrier to effective therapy in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).<h4>Introduction</h4>Here, we identified a previously undefined mechanism by which miR-21 promotes sorafenib resistance by suppressing the tumor suppressor SASH1 and enhancing HBx-driven PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling.<h4>Methods</h4>miR-21 expression was markedly elevated in HBV-HCC tissues, HBV-integrated HCC cell lines, and hypoxic conditions.