LATS2 overexpression attenuates the therapeutic resistance of liver cancer HepG2 cells to sorafenib-mediated death via inhibiting the AMPK–Mfn2 signaling pathway

Background Effective therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently an imperative issue, and sorafenib is a first-line drug for the treatment of HCC. However, the clinical benefit of sorafenib is often impaired by drug resistance. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to investigate the molecular mechanisms involving sorafenib resistance, with a focus on large tumor suppressor 2 (LATS2) and mitophagy.