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Figure 2. AP-1 participation in hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Abnormal AP-1 activity is involved in the early stages of liver cancer and plays a relevant role during its progression. AP-1 enhances key processes in liver carcinogenesis in the hepatic cells and the tumor microenvironment, promoting drug resistance. Black arrows represent targets downstream of AP-1; colored arrows represent upstream components that activate AP-1. Figure created in Biorender.com. AP-1: Activator protein 1; JNK: c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase; EGF: epidermal growth factor; TGF-β: transforming growth factor-β; YAP: yes-associated protein; TAZ: WW-domain-containing transcription regulator 1; PD-1: programmed cell death protein 1; PD-L1: programmed cell death protein-ligand 1; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; MMPs: matrix metallopeptidases; VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor.