Anti-tumor activity of sorafenib in a model of a pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma.

•Sorafenib reduces viability and ERK signaling in pHCC cells.•In vivo, sorafenib exerts a moderate tumor growth inhibition.•There was a significant reduction of vascularization.•Epithelial–mesenchymal transition is not involved in the resistance to sorafenib.•Inhibition of β-catenin signaling might enhance the effect of sorafenib in pHCC.