The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a central regulator of tissue growth and homeostasis . It is comprised of two multiple protein complexes: mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and 2 (mTORC2), with regulatory-associated protein of mammalian target of rapamycin (Raptor) and rapamycin-insensitive companion of mTOR (Rictor) as unique protein components for mTORC1 and mTORC2, respectively . De-regulation of the mTOR pathway is frequently found in human cancers , including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of primary liver cancer [14, 15]. Temsirolimus, a first generation mTOR inhibitor, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of advanced stage renal cell carcinoma . Similarly, targeting the mTOR signaling has been considered a promising strategy for the treatment of HCC . However, studies on the functional contribution of the mTOR pathway to HB development are lacking.